Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 416

Sec. 1]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
391
householders, practice of austerities, studies, meditation, religious vows, duties and rules, Sramaņa-Sangha, ideals of the Nirgranthus, their classification and that of the Sanyatas (selfcontrolled) and Āgāra-Dharma (religion of the householders).
Anāgāra-Dharma The introverts in the human society realize the truth of the futility and transitoriness of this worldly life and its material enjoyments which ensnare men with their temporary charms at the outset but lead them to miseries in the end. Their ioner urge inspires and guides them to follow the path of monasticism by renouncing the worll for the realization of the highest truth and knowledge and for the attainment of spiritual liberation-the ultimate goal of life.
This truth was realized by the introvert prince Jamālī, who expressed his feelings of non-attachment towards life thus :
"Human life is aggrieved by many births, old age, death, disease, plıysical and mental desires, suffering, danger, crime. hundred misfortunes and calamities ; it is uncertain, non-permanent, non-eternal. Like the evening colour of the sky, the water bubble, it is inconstant and unfixed having the nature of disso. lution, fall and destruction ; before or later this life will certainly be abandoned". “Human body is the house of suffering, the standing bones like the woods enveloped by veins, etc. it is the house of oldness, flesh (lead body), having the character of decay and fall ; soon or late, it will be given up".
“Human sensual gratifications of desires are impure, noneternal like the discharge er flow of vomitting always condemned by the saints and Arhats, the causes of infinite worldly bondages accompanied by unlimitted sufferings and hindrances to the attainment of liberation." "Wealths, such as, gold, bell-metal, etc., are consumed by the fire, thief, king, death and sons and are thus commion to them ; (they are) non-eternal; soon or late they will be abandoned.''
1 BIS, 9, 33, 384,