Uttaradhyayana

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5:20 h Jainism

Uttaradhyayana or Uttaradhyayana Sutra is a Śvētāmbara text said to be one of the final set lectures given by Lord Mahavira before his liberation. The Uttaradhyayana points to the fact that nudity distinguished Mahavira's monks from those of Parshvanatha.

Gaina Sutras

Translated from Prakrit

Hermann Jacobi

PART II

Uttarâdhyayana.

FIRST LECTURE.

ON DISCIPLINE.

I shall explain in due order the discipline of a houseless monk, who has got rid of all worldly ties. Listen to me. (1)

A monk who, on receiving an order from his superior , walks up to him, watching his nods and motions, is called well-behaved. (2)

The original has the plural instead of the singular. It takes great liberties in this respect, and the commentators constantly call to help a vakanavyatyaya or liṅgavyatyaya, exchange of number or gender, as the case may be. It is impossible in the translation to follow the original in this respect, and useless to note all such grammatical blunders. The conclusion we may draw from them is that in the spoken language many grammatical forms which in the literary language continued to be used, were on the point of dying out or had already actually become obsolete. I am almost sure that the vernacular of the time when the Sûtras were composed began to drop the distinction between the singular and plural in the verb. It was, however, artificially revived in the literary Mâhârâshtrî of later days.

But a monk who, on receiving an order from his superior, does not walk up to him, being insubordinate and inattentive, is called ill-behaved. (3)

As a bitch with sore ears is driven away everywhere, thus a bad, insubordinate, and talkative (pupil) is turned out. (4)

As a pig leaves a trough filled with grain to feed on faeces, so a brute (of a man) turns away from virtue, and takes to evil ways. (5)

Hearing a man thus compared to a dog and a pig, he who desires his own welfare, should adhere to good conduct. (6)

Therefore be eager for discipline, that you may acquire righteousness; a son of the wise , who desires liberation , will not be turned away from anywhere. (7)

One should always be meek, and not be talkative in the presence of the wise; one should acquire valuable knowledge, and avoid what is worthless. (8)

When reprimanded a wise man should not be angry, but he should be of a forbearing mood; he should not associate, laugh, and play with mean men. (9)

He should do nothing mean , nor talk much; but after having learned his lesson, he should meditate by himself. (10)

If he by chance does anything mean, he should never deny it, but if he has done it, he should say: ‘I have done it;’ if he has not done it, ‘I have not done it.’ (11)