Agam 19 Upang 08 Niryavalika Sutra English Translation - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided English translation of the Jain text, Agam 19 Upang 08 Niryavalika Sutra:

Book Title: Agam 19 Upang 08 Niryavalika Sutra English Translation Author: Dipratnasagar, Deepratnasagar Publisher: Deepratnasagar

Overall Purpose and Nature of the Text:

The Niryavalika Sutra is an "Ang-bahya" (an auxiliary scripture) which is now classified as an "Upang" (a supplementary canonical text) in Jainism. It is presented here with a translation and commentary. The primary focus of this Upang is to describe the destinies of ten prominent individuals, including princes, who are destined to be born in infernal realms (Narak). The text narrates their stories, often linked to the reign of Emperor Shrenik and his son Kunik, and provides insights into their past actions and their consequences in future lives.

Key Themes and Narratives:

The Niryavalika Sutra is structured into ten chapters, with the first chapter, "Kaal," being the most extensively detailed in this extract. The subsequent chapters, up to the tenth, follow a similar pattern.

The Setting: The narratives primarily unfold during the time of Lord Mahavir, with significant events taking place in the prominent city of Rajagriha and Champa.
Spiritual Guidance: The text begins with a dialogue between Arya Sudharma Swami (a disciple of Lord Mahavir) and his ascetic disciple Jambu Swami. Jambu Swami expresses curiosity about the Upangas, and Sudharma Swami outlines the five Upangas, including the Niryavalika. He then proceeds to explain the content of the Niryavalika, which has ten chapters named after princes.
The Story of Kaal Kumar (Chapter 1 - Kaal):
- Kaal Kumar's Demise: The chapter details the demise of Kaal Kumar, son of King Shrenik and Queen Kaali Devi, in the fierce Rath-musal battle against King Chetak. Kaal Kumar, along with a significant army, fights bravely but is fatally wounded by a single arrow from King Chetak.
- Kaali Devi's Grief and Bhagavan Mahavir's Revelation: Kaali Devi, worried about her son, visits Bhagavan Mahavir's divine assembly. Bhagavan Mahavir informs her of Kaal Kumar's death and his subsequent reincarnation in the Hemabh Narak (fourth hell) in the Pankaprabha Prithvi, where he will spend a substantial period.
- Gautam Swami's Inquiries: Gautam Swami, another chief disciple, inquires about the specific sins and attachments that led to Kaal Kumar's infernal rebirth.
- The Story of Kunik's Birth: The narrative then delves into the birth of Kunik, the son of King Shrenik and Queen Chelana. It describes Chelana's unusual pregnancy craving (dohad) to consume her husband's flesh, a craving that was fulfilled through a clever but ethically problematic deception by Abhaya Kumar (Shrenik's son from Queen Nanda). This event, rooted in past-life animosity, leads to Queen Chelana's guilt and the abandonment of the newborn Kunik. King Shrenik's deep paternal affection is highlighted as he tends to the infant.
- Kunik's Rise to Power and Parricide: The story progresses to Kunik's ambition to rule. He conspires with his ten brothers, including Kaal Kumar, imprisons his father King Shrenik, and usurps the throne. Tragically, King Shrenik, filled with fear of his son's intentions, commits suicide by ingesting poison. Kunik, upon realizing his father's love and the circumstances of his own birth, is overcome with grief but too late to prevent the tragedy.
- The Rath-Musal War: The chapter extensively describes the lead-up to and the Rath-musal battle. This includes the conflict between King Kunik and King Chetak, triggered by Prince Vehalla (Kunik's brother) fleeing to Vaishali with the prized Sechanak elephant and the eighteen-string necklace. The war is characterized by detailed military formations (Garuda Vyuha and Shakat Vyuha) and fierce combat, resulting in the deaths of Kaal Kumar and his nine brothers.
- Kaal Kumar's Reincarnation and Future Liberation: The chapter concludes by reiterating Kaal Kumar's reincarnation in the fourth hell and his eventual liberation in the Mahavideh area, emphasizing the cyclical nature of karma and rebirth.
The Story of Sukaal Kumar (Chapter 2 - Sukaal): This chapter follows a pattern similar to Kaal Kumar's, detailing the fate of Sukaal Kumar, son of Shrenik and Sukaali Devi. He also dies in the Rath-musal battle and is destined for infernal rebirth and eventual liberation.
Chapters 3-10 (Mahakaal, Krishna, Sukrishna, etc.): These chapters are stated to follow the same narrative structure, focusing on the remaining eight princes (sons of other queens) who also serve as commanders in Kunik's army. They all meet a similar fate in the war, dying in battle and being destined for infernal rebirth and eventual liberation. The names of these princes are often linked to the names of their mothers.
Appendix: The appendix provides additional context and details about Emperor Shrenik and Kunik, including their genealogies, the significance of certain events (like Chelana's dohad), the origin of the Sechanak elephant and Vankachula necklace, and the philosophical underpinnings of past-life animosity influencing present actions. It also discusses the interpretation of terms like "kodi" (koti) in the context of army sizes.

Key Characters:

Lord Mahavir: The supreme spiritual guide.
Arya Sudharma Swami: A chief disciple of Lord Mahavir, who imparts spiritual knowledge.
Ascetic Jambu Swami: A disciple seeking knowledge.
Emperor Shrenik: A righteous and prosperous king of Magadh, father of Kunik and Kaal Kumar. Known as Bimbasar in Buddhist literature.
Queen Chelana: Shrenik's wife and mother of Kunik.
Queen Kaali Devi: Shrenik's wife and mother of Kaal Kumar.
Kunik: Shrenik's son by Queen Chelana, who usurps the throne and kills his father.
Kaal Kumar: Shrenik's son by Queen Kaali Devi, who dies in battle and is reborn in hell.
Prince Vehalla: Shrenik's son by Queen Chelana, whose actions lead to the Rath-Musal war.
King Chetak: The adversary of King Kunik in the Rath-Musal battle.
Abhaya Kumar: Shrenik's son from Queen Nanda, known for his wisdom.

Commentary and Significance:

The commentary provided by Muni Deepratnasagar aims to elucidate the meanings of the Sutra, offer explanations for seemingly harsh pronouncements by Bhagavan Mahavir (attributing them to his omniscience and the karmic implications), and connect the narratives to broader Jain philosophical concepts like karma, rebirth, and liberation. The text emphasizes that even individuals destined for hell can ultimately attain liberation through appropriate actions and spiritual pursuit. The appendix highlights historical and scriptural discrepancies in names, suggesting the complexity of textual transmission.