Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. It the thirteenth Tirthankara, the followers of Lord Parsvanath's order', those of Jamali, the Vanaprastha tapasa (forest recluse), Šiva, the royal sage of Hastinapura3, the three parivrajakas, namely, Skandaka', Poggala, and Ammaḍa, and Gośāla Mankhaliputra,' the Ajivika leader. The whole fifteenth Sataka has been devoted to the legend of Gośala, his life and teachings, and the Ajivika sect. This account is presented in the form of an epilogue emerged out of the conversations between Gautama Indrabhuti and the Master. These legends throw light upon the religious conditions of the period and give a graphic account of the life and activities of various sects and their systems of thought and reveal the existence of some obscure cults with unsympathetic criticism. The way of presentation of the picture of religious firmament has brought to light the half-known and unknown life of these sects with a historical background.
The author of the BhS has also used some fictitious narratives to deduce some specific moral, e. g. the story of some merchants of Sravasti and their fate as narrated by Gośāla Mankhaliputra to Ananda, a disciple of Lord Mahāvīra to warn him against his (the Master) act of vilification of the Ajivika leader by disclosing his life's account.
As one good merchant among them was spared of his life by a wounded poisonous snake for the act of his moral advice given to his fellow-traders not to break the last mound out of greediness for more wealth, so Ananda also was allowed to return with safety from the attack of the spiritual power of wounded and wrathful Gośāla Mañkhaliputra, staying like that poisonous snake struck on the head by the other covetous merchants and to report this warning of destruction to the Master, if he indulged in the act of inciting the Ajivika leader again in this manner".
In the story of the four merchants the aim of the author is to move or to instruct the readers by his narrative style backed by reason. He has told this story of adventure,
1.6 Vide infra Ch. VIII, Section on other sects.
7 BhS, 15, 1, 539.
8.9 Ib, 15, 1, 547.