{"collection":"Jainism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/jai/sbe45/sbe4554.htm","path":"jai/sbe45/sbe4554.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/jai/sbe45/sbe4554.htm","text":"Jaina Sutras, Part II (SBE45), tr. by Hermann Jacobi, [1895]\nSramanas and Br\u00e2hmanas, householders and heretics, have asked (me): Who is he that proclaimed this unrivalled truly wholesome Law, which was (put forward) with true knowledge 1? (1)\nWhat was the knowledge, what the faith, and what the conduct of the G\u00f1\u00e2triputra? If you know it truly, O monk, tell us as you have heard it, as it was told you! (2)\nThis wise and clever great sage possessed infinite knowledge and infinite faith. Learn and think about the Law and the piety of the glorious man who lived before our eyes 2! (3)\nThis wise man had explored all beings, whether they move or not, on high, below, and on earth, as well as the eternal and transient things. Like a lamp he put the Law in a true light. (4)\nHe sees everything; his knowledge has got beyond (the four lower stages) 3; he has no impurity; he is virtuous, of a fixed mind, the highest, the\nwisest in the whole world; he has broken from all ties; he is above danger and the necessity to continue life 1. (5)\nOmniscient, wandering about without a home, crossing the flood (of the Sams\u00e2ra), wise, and of an unlimited perception, without an equal, he shines forth (or he does penance) like the sun, and he illumines the darkness like a brilliant fire, (6)\nThe omniscient 2 sage, K\u00e2syapa, has proclaimed this highest Law of the Ginas; he, the illustrious one, is prominent (among men) like the thousand-eyed Indra among the gods of heaven. (7)\nHis knowledge is inexhaustible like the (water of the) sea; he has no limits and is pure like the great ocean; he is free from passion, unfettered, and brilliant like Sakra, the lord of the gods. (8)\nBy his vigour he is the most vigorous; as Sudarsana (M\u00earu), the best of all mountains, or as heaven, a very mine of delight, he shines forth endowed with many virtues. (9)\n(M\u00earu) a hundred thousand y\u00f4ganas high, with three tiers 3, with the Pandaga (-wood) as its flag, rising ninety-nine thousand y\u00f4ganas above the ground, and reaching one thousand below it; (lo)\nIt touches the sky and is immersed in the earth; round it revolve the suns 4; it has the colour of gold, and contains many Nandana (parks) 5; on it the Mah\u00eandras enjoy themselves. (11)\nThis mountain is distinguished by (many) names; it has the colour of burnished gold; it is the greatest of all mountains, difficult to ascend on account of its rocks; this excellent mountain is like a part of the earth on fire. (12)\nThe king of mountains, standing in the centre of the earth, is seen in a pure light 1 like that of the sun. With such beauty shines forth this many-coloured, lovely (mountain), which is crowned with radiance. (13)\nThus is described the glory of mount Sudarsana, the great mountain; similar to it is the Sramana G\u00f1\u00e2triputra, who is noble, glorious, full of faith, knowledge, and virtue. (14)\nAs Nishadha 2 is the best of long-stretched mountains, and Rukaka of circular ones, so is he (Mah\u00e2v\u00eera) among sages the wisest in the world, according to the declaration of the wise ones. (15)\nAfter having taught the highest Law he practised the highest contemplation 3, which is the purest of pure, pure without a flaw, thoroughly white (as it were) like mother-of-pearl and the moon. (16)\nHaving annihilated all his Karman, the great sage by his knowledge, virtue, and faith reached\nthe insurpassable, highest perfection, a state which has a beginning but no end. (17)\nAs the S\u00e2lmal\u00ee, in which the Suparna 1 gods take their delight, is most famous among trees, as Nandana is among parks, so is the Omniscient most famous through his knowledge and virtue. (18)\nAs thunder is the loudest of sounds, as the moon is the most glorious of heavenly bodies, as sandal is the best of perfumes, so of monks is he who had renounced all wishes or plans. (19)\nAs (the ocean on which sleeps) Svayambh\u00fb is the best of seas, as Dharan\u00eandra is the best of N\u00e2gas, as the juice of sugarcane is, as it were, the flag of juices, so is he (Mah\u00e2v\u00eera) the flag of monks by his austerities. (20)\nAs Air\u00e2vana is the best of elephants, the lion of beasts, Ga\u1e45g\u00e2 of rivers, as Garuda, V\u00eanud\u00eava 2, is the best of birds, so is G\u00f1\u00e2triputra the best of those who have taught the Nirv\u00e2na. (21)\nAs Vishvaks\u00eana 3 is the most famous of warriors, as the lotus is the best of flowers, as Dantavakra is the best of Kshattriyas, so Vardham\u00e2na is the best of sages. (22)\nAs giving safety is the best of gifts, as the best of true speeches is that which causes no distress,\nas chastity is the highest of austerities, so is the Sramana G\u00f1\u00e2triputra the highest of men. (23)\nAs the Lavasaptamas 1 are the highest of those gods who live very long, as the palace Saudharman is the best of heavenly abodes, as Nirv\u00e2na is the chief object of the Law, so there is no wiser man than G\u00f1\u00e2triputra. (24)\nHe (bears everything) like the earth; he annihilates (his Karman); he is free from greed; he, the Omniscient, does not keep store (of anything); he has crossed the ocean of life like the sea: he, the Hero, who grants protection to all, and whose perception is infinite. (25)\nHaving conquered the passions which defile the soul: wrath, pride, deceit, and greed, the Arhat, the great sage, does not commit any wrong, nor does he cause it to be committed. (26)\nHe understood the doctrines of the Kriy\u00e2v\u00e2dins, of the Akriy\u00e2v\u00e2dins, of the Vainayikas, and of the Ag\u00f1\u00e2nav\u00e2dins 2; he had mastered all philosophical systems, and he practised control as long as he lived. (27)\nHe abstained 3 from women, and from eating at night, he practised austerities for the removal of pain, he knew this world and that beyond; the lord renounced 3 everything at every time. (28)\nHaving heard and believing in the Law, which\nhas been proclaimed and taught by the Arhat, and has been demonstrated with arguments, people will either make an end of their mundane existence, or they will become like Indra, the king of gods. (29)\nThus I say.\n287:1 The question is supposed to be addressed by Gamb\u00fbsv\u00e2min to Sudharman.\n287:2 Kakkhupah\u00ea thiyassa = kakshuhpath\u00ea sthitasya, literally, 'who stood (or stands) in the path of the eyes.' We are scarcely entitled to infer from this phrase that the author had actually seen Mah\u00e2v\u00eera as tradition would make us believe.\n287:3 Abhibh\u00fbya-n\u00e2n\u00ee. Concerning the five stages or kinds of knowledge, see above, p. 352. The K\u00eavala knowledge is intended.\n288:1 To render an\u00e2yuh.\n288:2 \u00c2supanna = \u00e2suprag\u00f1a, literally, 'quickly witted;' the word is usually explained by k\u00eavalin.\n288:3 Kandaka, one of stone, one of gold, and one of turquoise.\n288:4 As is well known the Gainas assume a plurality of suns.\n288:5 The names of these four parks are, according to the commentary, p. 289 S\u00e2lavana, Nandanavana, Saumanasavana, and Pandaka (or P\u00e2nduka) vana. The first is at the foot of M\u00earu, the second 500 y\u00f4ganas above it, the third 62,000 above the second, and the fourth 36,000 above the last, i.e. at the very top.\n289:1 Suddha-less\u00ea = suddhal\u00easya. Here l\u00easy\u00e2 is equal to t\u00eagas.\n289:2 Nishadha and Rukaka are two fabulous chains of mountains situated beyond Gamb\u00fbdv\u00eepa.\n289:3 This is the sukla dhy\u00e2na. As sukla, which I translate 'pure,' originally means white,' the comparison with the moon is natural in the original.\n290:1 They belong to the Bhavanapatis, see above, p. 225.\n290:2 The commentator says that V\u00eanud\u00eava is another name of Garuda. V\u00eanu stands perhaps for venhu = vishnu; but I do not know that Garuda ever was directly identified with Vishnu.\n290:3 V\u00eesas\u00eana. Vishvaks\u00eana is a name of Krishna. The commentators make Visvas\u00eana of V\u00eesasena, and seem to take it as a synonym of kakravartin or universal monarch. Dantavakra is mentioned in my 'Ausgew\u00e4hlte Erz\u00e4hlungen,' p. 35, line 36.\n291:1 The commentator identifies them with the fifth class of Anuttara gods (see Uttar\u00e2dhyayana XXXVI, 215, above p. 227), and explains the name by saying if they lived seven lavas longer, they would reach perfection.'\n291:2 Concerning these four principal heresies see note on Uttar\u00e2dhyayana XVIII, 23, above p. 83.\n291:3 V\u00e2riya, literally 'forbade.'","title":"Jaina Sutras, Part II (SBE45): S\u00fbtrakrit\u00e2\u1e45ga: Book 1, Lecture 6: Praise Of Mah\u00e2v\u00eera","type":"page"}