Dharm Ke Dash Lakshan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Dharm Ke Dash Lakshan" by Moolchand Jain, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Dharm Ke Dash Lakshan (The Ten Virtues of Dharma) Author: Dr. Moolchand Jain Publisher: Acharya Dharmshrut Granthmala Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/033223/1

This illustrated Jain storybook, "Dharm Ke Dash Lakshan," presents the ten cardinal virtues of Jainism through engaging visual narratives. Published in 2004 by Acharya Dharmshrut Granthmala, it was created in honor of the "Sanyam Varsh" (Year of Restraint) of Acharya Shanti Sagar Ji Maharaj. The book aims to educate readers of all ages, from eight to eighty, about Jain principles in an accessible and entertaining manner.

The book systematically explains each of the ten virtues, illustrating them with stories that highlight their significance and the consequences of adhering to or deviating from them. Each story is presented in a comic book format, making the teachings relatable and memorable.

Here's a breakdown of the virtues and their associated stories as depicted in the book:

Page 3-5: Uttam Kshama (Supreme Forgiveness) This section tells the story of Anjana, the wife of Pawan. Accused falsely by her mother-in-law of infidelity due to Pawan's prolonged absence, Anjana is unjustly banished from her home despite being pregnant. Anjana's unwavering forgiveness, even in the face of such hardship, and her acceptance of her past karma are emphasized. The story explains that her suffering is a result of a past life's karmic retribution for her anger towards a co-wife. Ultimately, Anjana gives birth to a valiant son, Hanuman, and is reunited with Pawan, highlighting how forgiveness and acceptance of karma lead to positive outcomes.
Page 6-8: Uttam Mardava (Supreme Humility/Gentleness) The story revolves around Chakravarti Sanatkumar. Two celestial beings (Devas) visit him, initially praising his beauty and comparing it favorably to their own. However, upon closer inspection, they reveal that while his outward appearance is stunning, his true inner beauty and the ephemeral nature of material possessions are not as lasting as the unseen qualities. Sanatkumar realizes the transient nature of his form, wealth, and possessions, leading him to renounce the world and become a Digambar monk. This story underscores the importance of inner humility over outward pride and the recognition of the impermanence of worldly things.
Page 9-12: Uttam Aarjav (Supreme Straightforwardness/Honesty) This segment features a thief named Mridumati who, after hearing a religious discourse, contemplates renouncing his thieving ways. Separately, a king also considers taking Diksha (religious initiation). The story then shifts to Mridumati becoming a monk. Due to a momentary lapse of Maya (deceit/attachment) and pride, he falsely accepts the praise of the townspeople who mistake him for a renowned ascetic. This minor act of dishonesty leads him to a lower heaven, but after his celestial lifespan, he falls into the animal kingdom, illustrating how even small deviations from truthfulness can have significant karmic consequences.
Page 13-14: Uttam Lohia (Supreme Contentment/Absence of Greed) This story portrays a scholar who, unable to answer his wife's question about "the father of all sins," embarks on a journey to find the answer. He encounters a courtesan who offers him shelter and food. Initially refusing, he is enticed by the money offered. He agrees to stay and even eat food prepared by her, which he considers against his principles, further compromising his values for material gain. The courtesan ultimately reveals that "greed" is the greatest sin, as it drove him to compromise his beliefs. The story emphasizes that greed leads to a downfall and moral compromise.
Page 15-17: Uttam Satya (Supreme Truthfulness) The story of Satyaghosh, a royal priest, highlights the virtue of truth. Satyaghosh is entrusted with five precious gems by a merchant, Samudradatta, who is going abroad. When Samudradatta returns after two years, Satyaghosh, now corrupted by greed and possibly influenced by his wife, denies ever receiving the gems. The merchant's plight reaches the Queen, who cleverly arranges a game of dice with Satyaghosh. The Queen wins Satyaghosh's ring and sacred thread (janeu) in the game, which are then used to identify his own stored gems. The king, upon learning of the deceit, orders Satyaghosh to be punished for his betrayal, emphasizing that truth and honesty are paramount, and betrayal carries severe consequences.
Page 18-20: Uttam Sanyam (Supreme Restraint) This section illustrates the principle of restraint through a dispute between humans and gods regarding who should carry Lord Mahavir's palanquin to the forest for his renunciation. Humans argue they have a right because they are fellow humans and experienced his birth events. Gods claim their right due to their celestial role. An elder judge declares that the palanquin should be carried by those capable of achieving the same level of spiritual attainment as Mahavir. The story highlights that true restraint and the ability to renounce are qualities that even gods aspire to and that the human birth is precious for achieving liberation through restraint. It stresses that without restraint, liberation is impossible, and without a human birth, perfect restraint is difficult.
Page 21-24: Uttam Tapa (Supreme Austerity) This story contrasts two brothers who become ascetics. One brother, Shubhchandra, diligently practices austerity and renunciation, living a simple life. The other brother, also named Shubhchandra, receives a chemical compound (ras tambi) that can turn copper into gold, considering it a fruit of his spiritual practice. He sends it to his ascetic brother, who rejects it, throwing it onto stones. The second brother, seeing his ascetic brother's poverty and lack of even basic necessities, questions the value of his austerity. However, when he witnesses his ascetic brother's step on the stones, they miraculously turn into gold, revealing the true power of "sammyak tapa" (right austerity) which breaks karmic bonds and leads to liberation. The story emphasizes that true austerity is not about material gains but about inner purification and detachment, leading to ultimate freedom. It also includes a reference to Bhartrihari becoming a monk.
Page 25-27: Uttam Tyaga (Supreme Renunciation/Charity) This narrative explores the concept of renunciation through a dialogue between a scholar and a boatman. The scholar needs to cross a river but has no money. The boatman initially refuses to ferry him. The scholar reflects on the idea of renunciation. The story then shifts to the scholar and a wealthy merchant crossing the river, where the scholar explains that the crossing itself was an act of renunciation (giving money to the boatman). The discussion moves to the types of charity (Daan) – food, medicine, knowledge, and fearlessness – and the recipients (Munis, Aryikas, Shravaks, Shravikas). It clarifies that while lay followers (Shravaks) perform charitable acts like providing food and medicine, ascetics primarily engage in knowledge and fearlessness charity, with the ultimate renunciation being of passions like attachment and aversion.
Page 28-30: Uttam Akichanya (Supreme Non-possession/Detachment) This story depicts a monk who owns only a loincloth. When his loincloth is damaged by mice, his supporter tries to provide him with better provisions: a cat for the mice, a cow for the cat's milk, a field for the cow's grass, and finally, a large house and marriage to overcome loneliness. Each provision brings new problems, like legal disputes over straying cattle and the management of excess grain. The monk, overwhelmed by these worldly entanglements, realizes that even the simple loincloth is the root of all these troubles. He ultimately renounces even the loincloth, understanding that true non-possession means having no attachments whatsoever, even to the most basic necessities.
Page 31-33: Uttam Brahmacharya (Supreme Chastity/Celibacy) This story illustrates the importance of chastity and the dangers of lust. Kamath, the elder brother of Marubhuti, falls ill with desire for Vasundhara, Marubhuti's wife. Fearing Marubhuti's disapproval and the consequences, Vasundhara is tricked into visiting Kamath. Despite her resistance and pleas, Kamath violates his Brahmacharya and her chastity. Upon Marubhuti's return, the truth is revealed, and Kamath is punished by being paraded through the town on a donkey with a blackened face and exiled. The story emphasizes the vital importance of recognizing maternal figures (mother, sister, daughter) and maintaining chastity, as lust leads to moral degradation and severe karmic repercussions.

The book concludes with a section (Page 34-36) that praises the role of "Jain Chitra Katha" (Jain Illustrated Stories) as a valuable tool for spreading Jain culture, history, and ethics. It highlights the extensive treasury of moral and educational stories in Jain literature and presents the "Chitra Katha" series as an effort to make these teachings accessible to all. It also includes a call for subscriptions to the series, emphasizing its educational and spiritual value. The editorial note by Br. Dharmchand Jain Shastri further stresses the importance of these virtues in overcoming modern material distractions and achieving spiritual upliftment.