Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 6

Author(s): L C Jain
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 276

Ascetic Poetry in Paumchari yam
41
This body is the abode of deseases and life is momentary like lightning. In fact, the Paumchariyam explores the matter fact of the philosophy of life, as such, the poet starts this Purana from renunciation of worldly attachment to the end is MOKSHA and the learned thinker
Bimalsuri puts forth the norms and provisions to be followed. These poems run thus :
'पंच य अणुवमाई, तिष्णेव गुणववाई, सिक्खावयाणि चत्तारि ।' Renunciation of Pranivadh (killing lives), Asatya (untruth), Adattadan (theft). Parshtrigan (living with another's wife) are five Anu Brata, Disha Bidisha Niyaman (control), giving up of unjust punishment and limited consumption of life stuffs are four Guna Brata and Samayik (timely), Upavas, Poshadh (fast), Atithi Samvibhag and Samadhimaran are four Shiksha Brata. One, who leads life by leaving the use of honey, meat, wine and practising the worship and morals of a nobleman, is acclaimed as a true Grihastha. In this way the genius poet elaborates the soul of his Kavya through the ascetic approaches since the entire works passes through the path of Vairagya and renunciational spirit.
The asceticism of Paumchariyam is really miraculous since it attains supremacy from the very beginning of Jain Tirthankars of which Rishabh Dev Stands first. After ruling over the kingdom for a long period in KRITYUG, Rishabh happens to see a pross named Nilanjana when he begins to think over her with deep sense of sympathy :
'कटटं अहो ! विलम्बइ लोओ परसेसणेसु आसत्तो। उम्मतओ व नच्चइ कुणइ य बहुचेष्ट्सियाई ॥'
How pitiable, troublesome is the life which serves the lustymen by dancing madly. Thus, the noblest king gave up all sorts of luxurious pleasures and began to practise severe penance by virtue of non-attachment in order to attain MOKSHA.
At another place, while giving reference to the life sketch of Narada, Paumchariyam presents a sincere ascetic verse about the common man's plight of perishable lusty life :
'हा कट्ट' कह जीवा नच्चाविज्जन्ति कम्मेसु । च इअण महिलियं जो पुणरवि सेवेइ लिंगरूवेणं सो पावमोहियमई दीहं अज्जेइ संसारं जह छडिडऊण मत्तं पुणरवि लोगो न भुञ्जइ अभक्खं ।'