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236
YASASTILAKA AND INDIAN CULTURE
like a city magistrate (purapala). The power of Dharma (dharmasakti) is revealed in the devotee's strength of mind which is not perturbed even by the songs and music of a Rambha. Nityatva is constant devotion to the deity. Sthiti is firm concentration of the mind free from impurities on Rudra. The Pasupata seems to have been a system of religious discipline rather than a school of speculative thought.
Kaunḍinya's commentary on the Pasupata Sutras gives a fuller picture of the moral discipline of the Pasupata school at an early stage of its evolution. It is based on the yamas or modes of self-restraint, viz., ahimsa, brahmacarya, satya, asaṁvyavahāra, sauca, āhāralāghava and apramāda.
Ahimsa is non-injury which is almost as comprehensive as that of the Jainas. Even the lighting of fire is forbidden to avoid hurting sentient beings. Water should be filtered before use through a cloth or a strainer to keep out tiny creatures. Edible vegetable-stalks, growing bulbs and ripe seeds are to be shunned for similar reasons.' Ahimsa, in short, is avoidance of injury to all forms of life by any process, mental, vocal or physical. The Bhasya of Kaunḍinya quotes the following verse, which declares ahimsa to be superior to the gift of the golden mount of Meru or the entire earth or the ocean full of jewels:
यो दद्यात् काञ्चनं मेरुं कृत्स्नां चैव वसुंधराम् । समुद्रं रत्नपूर्ण वा न तुल्यं स्यादहिंसया ॥ It is interesting to note that Somadeva has a verse on the same subject in Yasastilaka, Book IV (p. 97), which appears to be a variation of the verse cited above:
यो दद्यात् काञ्चनं मेरुं कृत्स्नां चापि वसुंधराम् । एकस्य जीवितं दद्यात् फलेन न समं भवेत् ॥ Brahmacarya or chastity does not require any explanation. Satya is speaking the truth. Kaunḍinya quotes in this connection a verse which declares that even a falsehood uttered in mercy to all creatures leads to heaven, but not the truth, which being spoken results in the destruction of the good. Asamvyavahara is keeping aloof from commercial transactions and the royal court. Asteya is abstention from stealing which includes anadhikara-pratigraha (acquisition of property) and anupalambha (swindling money out of others). Akrodha is forbearance. Guruśuśruşa is serving one's teacher with devotion. Śauca is purity, physical, mental and spiritual. Physical impurities are removed by the use of holy ashes. More important is bhavasauca or purity of thoughts. Atmaśauca or spiritual purity is effected
1 Flesh food is permitted provided it does not involve killing, and is lawfully acquired. It is permissible to eat, for instance, the flesh of wild boars and buffaloes. See Kaunḍinya on Pasupata Sutras 5. 16.
2 स्वर्गमनृतेन गच्छति दयार्थमुक्तेन सर्वभूतानाम् । सत्येनापि न गच्छति सतां विनाशार्थमुक्तेन ॥
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