Budhjan Satsai - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Budhjan Satsai" by Budhjan Kavivar, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Budhjan Satsai (बुधजन सतसई) Author: Budhjan Kavivar (कविवर बुधजन) Publisher: Todarmal Granthamala Jaipur (पण्डित टोडरमल स्मारक ट्रस्ट, जयपुर) Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/008343/1

Overview:

"Budhjan Satsai" is a significant Jain text comprising approximately 702 verses (dohas) written by the esteemed Jain poet Budhjan Kavivar. The book was published by Todarmal Granthamala Jaipur in its first edition on January 26, 2007. The publication aims to make this previously scarce work accessible to the public.

Author and Context:

Kavivar Budhjan: Real name Bhadichandji, resident of Jaipur, belonging to the Khandewal caste. He was a highly respected scholar and poet.
Historical Period: Budhjanji is recognized as a prominent Jain poet from the 15th to 18th centuries, a period of prolific Jain literature creation. He is mentioned alongside other notable Jain poets like Dhyantaray, Bhudhardas, Daulatram, and Anandghan.
Other Works: Budhjanji's other noted works include Tattvarthabodh, Panchastikayasangraha, Budhjan Vilas, and Chhadhalā. His Chhadhalā is considered an inspiration for Pandit Daulatramji's more widely known Chhadhalā.
Literary Style: His verses are described as comparable in quality to those of renowned poets like Rahim, Tulsidas, and Kabir. His poetry often focuses on explaining Jain principles and guiding people away from worldly pursuits towards a path of detachment.

Content and Structure:

The "Budhjan Satsai" is structured into several sections, each containing verses (dohas) on specific themes:

Devanurag Shatak (देवानुरागशतक) - Hundred Verses of Devotion to God:
- This section, consisting of 100 dohas, is an invocation and glorification of Jinendra Dev (the Tirthankaras). It expresses deep devotion, seeking spiritual guidance and relief from worldly suffering. The verses highlight the boundless virtues and magnificence of the Tirthankaras, the inability of even great sages to fully describe them, and the poet's personal surrender and plea for salvation.
Subhashit Niti (सुभाषित नीति) - Wise Moral Teachings:
- This is the most extensive section, containing 200 dohas that encapsulate profound moral and ethical teachings in a concise manner. It covers a wide range of topics, including:
  - General Virtues: The importance of politeness, gratitude, and good conduct.
  - Dangers of Vice: Warnings against greed, anger, hypocrisy, falsehood, and association with wicked people.
  - Social Conduct: Advice on friendship, companionship, speech, respect, and behavior in different situations.
  - Practical Wisdom: Insights into effort, courage, patience, the consequences of actions, and the transient nature of worldly possessions.
  - Family and Relationships: Guidance on marital fidelity, good conduct of children, and the importance of a virtuous family.
  - Governance and Leadership: Principles for righteous kings and their duties towards their subjects.
  - Self-Discipline: The need for controlling desires, speech, and actions.
  - The Impermanence of Life: Emphasis on the fleeting nature of youth, wealth, and life itself, urging readers to focus on spiritual pursuits.
Upadeshadhikar (उपदेशाधिकार) - Section on Counsel/Advice:
- This section comprises 123 dohas offering guidance and advice on various aspects of life. Key themes include:
  - The Power of Intention and Action: Emphasizing the importance of sincere effort, righteous actions, and focusing on spiritual goals.
  - Detachment and Contentment: Advising against excessive desire and highlighting the role of contentment in achieving happiness.
  - The Importance of Righteous Path: Encouraging adherence to Dharma (righteousness) for present and future well-being, warning against deviating from it.
  - The Role of Good Company: Stressing the benefits of virtuous company (Satsang) and the detrimental effects of bad company.
  - The Nature of Mind: Describing the mind's fickleness and the importance of controlling it through spiritual practice and guidance.
  - Discrimination and Wisdom: Urging the application of wisdom in actions and interactions, and the importance of learning from good teachers.
Vidya Prashansa (विद्या प्रशंसा) - Praise of Knowledge:
- This section extols the virtues and importance of knowledge and education. It highlights how knowledge elevates individuals, brings respect, and leads to spiritual liberation, contrasting it with material wealth.
Mitrata aur Sangati (मित्रता और संगति) - Friendship and Company:
- This section focuses on the significance of choosing good friends and associates. It warns against forming friendships with those who are deceitful, immoral, or who lead one astray, emphasizing that true friendship aids in spiritual progress.
Prohibitions Against Vices:
- The text explicitly condemns several vices through its verses:
  - Jua Nishedh (जुआ निषेध) - Prohibition of Gambling: Gambling is depicted as a source of ruin, leading to the loss of wealth, dharma, family, and reputation.
  - Mansh Nishedh (मांस निषेध) - Prohibition of Meat-eating: Meat is described as impure and associated with violence and suffering, contrasting it with pure and sattvic foods.
  - Mady Nishedh (मद्य निषेध) - Prohibition of Alcohol: Alcohol consumption is shown to lead to ignorance, loss of self-control, social disgrace, and a downfall into lower realms.
  - Veshya Nishedh (वेश्या निषेध) - Prohibition of Prostitution: Associating with prostitutes is condemned as a path to ruin, leading to the loss of wealth, health, and spiritual merit.
  - Shikar ki Ninda (शिकार की निंदा) - Condemnation of Hunting: Hunting is criticized as an act of violence and cruelty, causing harm to innocent creatures.
  - Chori Ninda (चोरी निंदा) - Condemnation of Theft: Theft is described as a grave sin that leads to severe consequences in this life and the next.
  - Parastrī Sang Nishedh (परस्त्रीसंग निषेध) - Prohibition of Adultery: Engaging in illicit relations with another's wife is strongly condemned, highlighting the social and spiritual repercussions.
Virag Bhavana (विराग भावना) - Cultivation of Dispassion:
- This section focuses on fostering a sense of detachment from worldly pleasures and attachments, recognizing the impermanence of life and the suffering inherent in the cycle of birth and death.
Samata aur Mamata (समता और ममता) - Equanimity and Attachment:
- It advocates for equanimity (Samata) and renouncing possessiveness (Mamata), explaining how attachment leads to suffering, while equanimity brings peace and spiritual progress.
Anubhav Prashansa (अनुभव प्रशंसा) - Praise of Inner Experience:
- This section highlights the importance of direct spiritual experience and self-realization, suggesting that true understanding comes from inner realization rather than mere intellectual knowledge.
Guru Prashansa (गुरु प्रशंसा) - Praise of the Guru:
- It underscores the indispensable role of a Guru (spiritual preceptor) in acquiring true knowledge and achieving spiritual liberation. The verses emphasize the guidance and blessings of a Guru as essential for overcoming ignorance and attachment.
Kavi Prashasti (कवि प्रशस्ति) - Poet's Eulogy/Appreciation:
- The concluding section provides information about the composition of the work, including the date and place of its creation, and ends with auspicious verses. It also mentions the poet's intent to benefit all beings.

Editorial Notes:

The current publication was initiated when Br. Yashpal Jain noticed some verses of "Budhjan Satsai" while researching another work. He felt the need to make the text available to society.
The editor, Saubhagyamal Jain, faced challenges with some archaic Jaipur dialect words and provided footnotes for clarification.
Where Pandit Nathuramji Premi (who had previously revised the text) had placed question marks, the editor consulted a photostat of a handwritten manuscript to resolve discrepancies. In some cases, the ambiguity remains, inviting learned readers to interpret those verses.

Overall Message:

"Budhjan Satsai" serves as a guide for living a virtuous life according to Jain principles. It emphasizes devotion to the Tirthankaras, adherence to ethical conduct, renunciation of vices, the importance of knowledge, the value of true friendship, the cultivation of detachment and equanimity, and the crucial role of a Guru. The verses offer practical wisdom for navigating life's challenges and ultimately achieving spiritual liberation.