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10. JAINA DOGMATICS AND MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
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Somadeva mentions at the end of this section the various factors which destroy the value of charity. They are instructions to others' to make a gift on one's behalf, that is, lack of personal attention; jealousy at the liberality of others; lack of punctuality (in serving a guest); the practice of depositing food on sentient objects such as lotus leaves or covering it with same.?
XVI) The custom of sallekhanā or fasting unto death is dealt with in VIII. 45. Somadeva says that the practice is to be followed wh is about to perish, like a dry leaf or a lamp without oil. The hour of this last act of life comes when everyday the body loses strength and power of enjoyment, and is beyond remedy. Self-restraint, study, austerities, worship, and charity all become useless if the mind, is not pure at the last hour of life. Just as the training of a king, who has learnt the use of weapons for twelve years, becomes useless if he faints on the battlefield ; similarly the past conduct of a saint is of no avail if his mind is impure at the end. One should renounce one's affection for friends, infatuation with riches and illwill towards enemies, and then take proper steps (that is, resort to sallekhana) after confessing all sins before the head of the congregation. Food should be gradually given up and then beverages, both sweet and pungent; and one should thereafter abstain from everything with one's mind fixed on the five Parameşthins. There are five factors that destroy the efficacy of sallekhana:
lesire to live longer, the desire to die to avoid suffering, longing for friends, recollection of past happiness and the desire for happiness in the next life.
XVII) In Yasastilaka VIII. 44 Somadeva interprets from the Jaina point of view a number of Brahmanical terms, which illustrates certain salient features of the Jaina outlook in religious matters. For instance, a Diksita is not one who kills goats and other animals in sacrifices, but one whose daily sacrifice consists in friendliness towards all creatures. A Srotriya is not one who has external purity, but one who has nothing to do with wicked deeds and wicked men, and is kindly disposed towards all creatures. 10 A Hotā is not one who kindles the external fire, but one who
1 Art afarafanaidi TTET I 37-4179am CET & fra gt: 11 P. 410. 2 To ate acfaetri satuma TEKI farsituahagE te faforme 11 P. 413. 3 प्रतिदिवसं विजहद्बलमुझडाक्तं त्यजत् प्रतीकारम् । वपुरेव नृणां निगिरति चरमचरित्रोदयं समयम् ॥ 4 यमनियमवाध्यायास्तपांसि देवार्चनाविधिनम् । एतत् सर्व निष्फलमवसाने चेन्मनो मलिनम् ॥ 5 द्वादश वर्षाणि नृपः शिक्षितशस्त्रो रणेषु यदि मुह्येत् । किं स्यात्तस्यास्त्रविधेर्यथा तथान्ते यतेः पुराचरितम् ।। 6 स्नेहं विहाय बन्धुषु मोहं विभवेषु कलुषतामहिते । गणिनि च निवेद्य निखिलं दुरीहितं तदनु भजतु विधिमुचितम् ।। 7 अशनं क्रमेण हेयं स्निग्धं पानं ततः खरं चैव । तदनु च सर्वनिवृत्तिं कुर्याद्गुरुपञ्चकस्मृतौ निरतः॥ 8 जीवितमरणाशंसे सुहृदनुरागः सुखानुबन्धविधिः । एते सनिदानाः स्युः सल्लेखनहानये पञ्च ।। 9 3516: PHI 11 qera Pati H HTC DICHT17 aufhTT: || P. 421. 10 दुष्कर्मदुर्जनास्पशी सर्वसत्वहिताशयः । स श्रोत्रियो भवेत् सत्यं न तु यो बाह्यशौचवानू ।।
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