Religion and Culture of the Jains

SR No.: 014007
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1973
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 10 MB

Page 118

A. K. CHATTERJEE
however, follows the tradition preserved in the Jātakas11 and the Arthaśāstra12 according to which the Vṛṣṇis were destroyed because they were cursed by the sage Dvaipayana. The Mahabharata18 and the major Purāņas, on the other hand, give the names of some other munis (viz., Viśvāmitra, Kanva and Nārada) as having cursed the Vṛṣṇis.
Although the author of the Jain Harivamsa has followed the story of Kṛṣṇa as preserved in the Vaiṣṇava Harivaṁśa, it has to be said that he has not blindly imitated the latter work in respect of language. Even when he borrows his materials from earlier works, he gives ample evidence of his fine poetical power. In this connexion, we can refer to the magnificent description of Rajagṛha in Chapter 3, the city being also called Pañcaśailapura because it is surrounded by five hills (3.52). For this information, Jinasena II is apparently indebted to the earlier work1 Tiloyapanṇatti by Yativṛṣabha (Jadivasaha), which gives the name Pamcaselaṇayara15 (i.e. Pañcaśailanagara) for Rajagṛha. Although a staunch Jain, our poet seldom lets off an opportunity to describe a love
scene.
103
We are reproducing below a few lines from the 23rd chapter (verses 19-21)
paribhramya ciram sobhāṁ paśyantau tṛpti-varjitau] gireḥ sānuşu ramyeşu raṁramyete sma sasmarau]] tayoḥ sambhoga-sambhāraḥ puşpa-pallava-kalpite] talpe'=nalpo'=pi khedāya samajāyata no tadā]]
11 Nos. 454 and 530; cf. also the following verse (No. 530; Cowell's tran., Vol. V, pp. 55-56)—
Kaṇhadipāyanäsajja isiṁ Andhakavendayo
aññoññaṁ musalā hantvā sampattä Yama-sädhanaṁ||
Nalanda ed., Vol. II, p. 66.
12 Pandit Puskalay ed., p. 18.
13 XVI. 1.15.
14 This work was, in all probability, composed in the first half of the 7th century A.D. See Introd. (ed. H. L. Jain and A. N. Upadhye), Part II, pp. 4ff. (English); pp. 9ff. (Hindi).
15 1.65.