Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 618

Sec. IV]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SOTRA
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come in life which should be maintained by practising external and internal austerities and by scratching out the body (samlekhana) to save the soul in order to attain the highest goal of life-liberation'.
Religion attaches fear to its tenets by showing the attainment of heaven and hell' for meritorious and sinful acts of men respectively in connection with the individual, social and religious aspects of life. So one should retrace his steps (pratikramana) from the unvirtuous acts and make others forgive him, if he has done any wrong to any body. Actual value of life of an individual depends on self-imposed punishment and expiation (prāyaścitta) which are there to induce virtue in him. Self-analysis (alocanā) and the retracing of steps (pratikramana) come next to be made for what has been done in the case of an educated person, while in that of the illiterate people confession of guilt to their religious teacher is the best way to retrace from the sinful deeds, for the goal of happiness has changed its connotation into supreme bliss and liberation. Relativity of goodness and badness
The Bhs explains the relativity of goodness and badness. The state of sleep of some beings is good and that of sleeplessness is also good. The state of sleep of those beings, who are unrighteous and earn livelihood by the act of unrighteousness is good, for they, being slept, do not live for the sufferings of many beings and do not become the binders of inauspicious karmas. The state of sleeplessness of the virtuous beings who earn their livelihood by the righteous act is good, because they live without causing suffering to many beings and become the binders of auspicious karmas by their religious acts and thought."
As regards the stanardization of life which induces men to conform to natural condition, this canonical work lays a great emphasis on self-control by warning that the beings under the sway of five senses and passions travel again and again in the
1 Bhs, 2, 1, 91-96. • 16:12, 2, 443.
? 16, 8, 9, 351. 5 I6, 2, 1, 92.
8 16, 2. 1, 94-95.
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