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8
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
a nirgrantha prohibits the use of water so that living beings (water-bodies) in it do not die;
a nirgrantha prohibits all sinful activities;
a nirgrantha is absolved of sins for having prohibited
all sinful activities; and
a nirgrantha is engaged in prohibiting all sinful acti
vities.
In this manner, a nirgrantha is protected by four checks on the influx of fresh karma-fetters because of which they become uncovetous (gatātmā), restrained (yatātmā) and contented (sthitātmā). (2)
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The above account of the six religious teachers has been given by the Buddhist canonists in a half-hearted and casual manner so that the account cannot be accepted as fully authentic and adequate. A perusal of the account of Nirgrantha Jñata putra should convince one that the Buddhist writers did not exercise adequate caution or mobilise full knowledge to prepare it. The reaction about other accounts also will not be very much different. But, on the whole, it will not be wrong to say that these accounts contain at the most a very incomplete and indistinct shadow about the place of these spiritual leaders in contemporary society. This, however, is not to discount the importance of these accounts, howsoever cursory, in throwing some light on what might have happened at the dawn of history.
The main purpose of this account in the Samaññaphala Sutta seems to be to magnify, in contrast, the achievements of Gautama Buddha and belittle those of other spiritual leaders of the age. The occasion is provided by the visit paid by Ajatasatru (Kunika), the king of Magadha, to the Buddha. He came to the Buddha and raised a question about the visible effect of sramana -hood. Said the Buddha,
"Oh King! Did you raise the same question about the visible effect of sramana-hood with other spiritual leaders?"
To this, Ajata satru replied,
| SR No. | 022804 |
| Book Title | Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nagaraj Muni |
| Publisher | Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers |
| Publication Year | 1986 |
| Total Pages | 804 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 19 MB |