Suktiratnakosa

Author(s): Lakshman, Nilanjana Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 12

Hamsavijayagaại and Anyoktisataka of Darśanavijayagapi are collections of anoyktis. Anyoktimuktavali is divided into 8 paricchedas and contains 1199 verses. This anthology was written in A.D. 1679.
Besides these many Jaina Subhasita-Samgrahas are preserved only in manuscripts. A modern compilation in five volumes viz. Subhāşitd-padyarainakara (published in A. D. 1933-37) contains 4065 verses. This is an excellent selection of Jainistic Subhāşitas with an explanation in Gujarati on Jaina doctrine and teachings from Jaina Sources.
In the Jaina gnomic and didactic Subhāşita literature also we come across some works of this type. These works are written by Jainas to promote, Jaina teachings and propagate Jaina ethics. Among them Amitagati's Subhaşita-ratnu-Samdoha (A.D. 993-994), is specially noteworthy. This anthology is didactic as far as it proclaims the ethics of Digambara Jainas for laymen and monks and polemic as far as it contains criticisms of Brahmanical rules of conduct. It contains 922 Subhāşitas and is divided into 32 sections. 'Srngäravairog yatarangini' of Somaprabha is a didactic Jain poem. Most of the verses in this work teach Jaina ethics and are expressed in ascetic spirit, but real Subhāşitas are also found here in sufficient number.
Sūktin uk avali, or better known as Şindūraprakara' is written by Somaprabha, probably another than the author of 'Srngära-vairagyatarangini' Somaprabha has proclaimed in 99 verses written in different metres, the Jaina teachings in a form of stray verses of which many can be considered as Subhasitas. There exist also other didatic Jaina poems as well as other numerous writings which contain intermingled gnomic sayings both on morality and on worldly wisdom.
Thus the so-called Jaina Subhā şita samgrahas, although collected by Jaina authors were usually collections of stray verses culled not only from Jaina authors, tut also from non-Jainistic sources, as well as from the floating mass of oral tradition. As such they were of general application.
This Sūkti-Ratna-Koşa by Lakşmaņa belongs to this type. Laksmaņa as a devout jaina, pays homage to Jina in the opening verses. He did not cull the verses included in Sükti-Ratna-Koşa from Jaina authors, nor did he intend to teach Jaina doctrines; therefore the whole work has seldom a Jaina character. Almost All the verses included in this anthology could very well fit in any non-Jaina Subhāșia-Samgrahas.
This anthology contains some well-known and current sayings as well as some verses little known as quite unknown to other Subhāṣita-Samgrahas. We must credit Lakşmaņa with literatry judgment of a high order in selecting stanzas for his anthology. Lakşmia claims that he is presenting