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YAGASTILAKA AND INDIAN CULTURE
The inferiority of the principal Brahminical deities to Jina, who is not, strictly speaking, a deity but a world teacher and saint of superhuman status and universal power, is declared in the following verse :
लक्ष्मीपतिप्रभृतिभिः कृतपादसेवः पायाजगन्ति स जयी जिनचन्द्रदेवः ।
साम्यं त्रिविष्टपतिस्थितविक्रमस्य दंष्ट्रातावनितलस्य हरेनं यस्य ॥ 3.2 Verses in honour of the Srutadevatā, the presiding goddess of sacred lore, the Jaina Sarasvati, occur in connection with her worship, which is described immediately after the discourse on meditation (dhyānavidhi).' One of these verses is cited below:
चक्षुः परं करणकन्दरदरितेऽर्थे मोहान्धकारविधती परमः प्रकाशः ।
तद्धामगामिपथवीक्षणरत्नदीपस्त्वं सेव्यसे तदिह देवि जनेन धूपैः ॥ Thou art our sole eye in the perception of objects made inaccessible by the abyss of the senses. Thou art the supreme light in destroying the darkness of ignorance. Thou art a jewel lamp showing the path to the abode of beatitude. Thou art, therefore, 0 goddess, worshipped by men on earth with offerings of incense (Vol. II, p. 401).
RELIGIO-ETHICAL VERSES
THE WAY OF SÅGES न दैन्यात् प्राणानां न च हृदयहरिणस्य रतये न ददङ्गानां न च करणकरिणोऽस्य मदनात् ।
विधावृत्तिः किं तु क्षतमदनचरितश्रुतविधेः परे हेतौ मुक्तरिह मुनिषु न खलु स्थिति रियम् ॥ The sages take nourishment not owing to the frailty of the nor for the gaiety of the antelope-like heart nor for the vigour of the limbs nor for the exhilaration of the elephant-like senses; but for the supreme object of salvation as propounded in the canon of Jina, who hath destroyed the sway of passion. Is this not the customary practice of sages on earth? (1. 127)
USELESS STRENGTH श्रुताय येषां न शरीरवृद्धिः श्रुतं चरित्राय च येषु नैव । तेषां बलित्वं ननु पूर्वकर्मव्यापारभारोद्वहनाय मन्ये ।। Verily the strength of those whose physical growth does not lead to the study of the Scriptures and whose study of the Scriptures does not lead to right conduct, is meant, I ween, for merely bearing the burden of the Karma done in previous births (1. 128).
___WHEN DEATH IS WELCOME जीवस्य सद्दर्शनरत्नभाजश्चारित्रयुक्तस्य समाहितस्य । आशंसितो मृत्युरुपप्रयातः परं प्रमोदस्य समागमाय ।। Death when it comes is welcome and certainly a cause of joy to a man who possesses the Jewel of Right Faith, is endowed with Right Conduct, and practises pure meditation (1. 140)
THE USE AND ABUSE OF HUMAN LIFE पर्याप्तं विरसावसानकटुकैरुच्चावचैर्नाकिनां सौख्यैमिसदुःखदावदहनव्यापारदग्धात्मभिः ।
इत्थं स्वर्गसुखावधीरणपरैराशास्यते तदिनं यत्रोत्पद्य मनुष्यजन्मनि मनो मोक्षाय धास्यामहे ।। 1 See Chap. X.
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