Book Title: Yasastilaka and Indian Culture
Author(s): Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Jain Sanskruti Samrakshak Sangh Solapur

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Page 145
________________ 126 YAŠASTILAKA AND INDIAN OUTUBE Egyptians, Apollonius is reported to have answered: “Anyone with a little wisdom, if only he comes from India". Be that as it may, the story of Yasodhara makes it clear that so far as Jainism was concerned, it was opposed even to the sacrifice of lifeless models of animals; it rejected the very idea of animal sacrifices. In the second place, the story of Yasodhara is designed also to show that the resulting consequences might be quite out of proportion to the sin committed by an individual. The latter point is emphasized by Haribhadra in his version of the story. He makes Yasodhara declare that even a slight error is fraught with peril, as can be seen from the dire results produced even by the sacrifice of a cock made out of paste. Somadeva considers the problem of ahimsă in its relation to abhiniveća, the decisive character of which is stressed in a notable discourse in Book IV. It is put in the mouth of Yasodhara, who accepts a compromise on the subject of animal sacrifice, and agrees to sacrifice an artificial cock to Caņờikā with the object of attaining the results obtainable by sacrificing living creatures. The idea of killing is thus present, although a lifeless model is substituted for a real cock. Somadeva emphasizes in this connection the importance of abhinivesa, mental preoccupation or resolve', \purpose or motive', or intention', and declares that "the wise speak of abhinivesa as occupying the paramount place in all actions leading to virtue or sin. The external sense-organs, like the rays of the sun, are drawn equally to good as well as bad objects, but that alone does not make the agent liable to virtue or sin." This is another way of saying that it is the intention and not the outward act which determines the moral validity of an action. The idea is implied in another statement which Somadeva makes elsewhere, that if a pereson, pure in thought and action, inflicts injury on any one, he cannot be regarded as having done any injury at all." Somadeva illustrates the point further, using in this connection the term abhidhyāna in place of chinivesa. A fisherman, for example, although he does not actually kill the fish, is a sinner because his motive is himsă ; 1 See Chap. III. 2 'अहो दारुणविवागया अकज्जायरणाणं जमिह देवयानिमित्तं पिट्रमयकुक्कडवहो वि एवं परिणओ त्ति । 'दारुणो य विवाओ थेवस्स वि पमायचेट्ठियस्स जेण पिट्ठमयकुकुडवहो वि पेच्छ कहं परिणओ त्ति. 3 nag ay gag # 4 afara m' Book IV, p. 163. 4 'अभिनिवेशं च पुनः पापपुण्यक्रियासु प्रधानं निधानमामनन्ति मनीषिणः । बाहानीन्द्रियाणि तपनतेजांसीव शुमेष्वशुभेषु T U Å fafaqafer 1 daran hafa refugig: Fresat nielea sana: 1 Śrutaságara says her qroa. p. 136. 5 Kathalt: Taalaalag: 111acat fecumsta alem: 11 Book VI, section 21, p. 335. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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