Madan Dhandev Ras - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Madan-Dhanadev-Ras," authored by Pandit Shri PadmVijayji and edited by Punnya Panyas Shri Ramanakvijayji Gani:

Overall Purpose and Context:

The "Madan-Dhanadev-Ras" is a poetic work that aims to illustrate the impermanence and ultimately sorrowful nature of worldly attachments, particularly those related to sensual pleasures and relationships with women. Through a narrative, it seeks to guide the reader towards spiritual practices and the pursuit of liberation (moksha). The work highlights the Jain emphasis on understanding the true nature of reality, where worldly pleasures are transient and often lead to suffering.

Key Themes and Teachings:

Impermanence of Worldly Pleasures: The Ras emphasizes that all worldly enjoyments, including those derived from wealth, relationships, and sensual experiences, are temporary and ultimately lead to dissatisfaction.
The Deceptive Nature of Women: The text portrays women as a significant source of attachment and delusion. It describes them as potentially cruel, deceitful, and ultimately leading to misery, serving as a powerful illustration of the worldly entanglements that hinder spiritual progress.
The Cycle of Birth and Death (Samsara): The narrative follows the protagonists through multiple lifetimes, demonstrating the cyclical nature of existence and how actions in one life influence the next.
The Path to Liberation (Moksha): The ultimate goal presented is to transcend these worldly attachments and pursue the path of righteousness, asceticism, and spiritual knowledge, leading to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The Importance of Detachment (Vairagya): The story illustrates how detachment from worldly desires and experiences is crucial for spiritual advancement.

Narrative Summary:

The "Madan-Dhanadev-Ras" tells the story of two friends, Madan and Dhanadev, who experience various life events and relationships, often involving women and worldly pursuits. Their experiences highlight the deceptive and ultimately disappointing nature of these attachments.

Madan's Story: Madan is initially married to two women, Chanda and Prachanda, who are constantly in conflict. To manage this, Madan divides his time between them. One day, he spends an extra day with Prachanda, angering Chanda, who attacks him with a pestle, which he perceives as a snake. Fleeing to Prachanda, he is further shown to be protected by her magical prowess. Troubled by the turmoil with his wives, Madan decides to leave his home and wanders to the city of Sankash. There, he meets Bhanudatta, a merchant, and marries his daughter, Vidyullata. Despite his new marital bliss, Madan's thoughts return to his previous wives. During the monsoon season, he hears a woman weeping in separation and decides to visit his old wives, obtaining Vidyullata's reluctant permission. His journey is interrupted by a mendicant who offers him food. After eating, the mendicant transforms into a goat due to a curse. Madan follows the goat to Sankash, where Vidyullata, witnessing the goat's suffering and her own potential downfall, transforms it back into the mendicant with a magical ritual. This event leaves Madan disillusioned with women's unpredictable nature. He abandons all three wives and embarks on a spiritual path.
Dhanadev's Story: Dhanadev's parents, Dhanpati and Lakshmi, lead pious lives and pass away. Dhanadev lives harmoniously with his brother, but their wives cause conflict. His elder brother arranges for him to marry another woman, but this new wife also proves to be capricious. Dhanadev feigns illness to observe his wives' true nature. He discovers they possess magical abilities and can fly to Ratnapura in Ratnadeep. He follows them and witnesses their activities. In Ratnapura, he encounters a merchant, Sagardatta, who is sent to find him. Dhanadev is married to Shrimati, the daughter of merchant Shripunj. During their wedding, the groom dies. Shripunj, wanting to marry his daughter quickly, finds Dhanadev, who then marries Shrimati. However, Dhanadev's two previous wives, who are capable of magical flight, appear at the wedding and witness their husband's new life. Later, Dhanadev is transformed into a parrot by one of his wives' curses, and he longs for his former life and family. He is eventually reunited with Shrimati when she discovers him in the parrot cage. Shrimati's intelligence and virtue eventually lead to the pacification of Dhanadev's other wives and a more harmonious life, though the text suggests Shrimati also eventually succumbs to worldly desires.
The Renunciation: Disillusioned with the deceitful nature of women and the impermanence of worldly life, both Madan and Dhanadev ultimately decide to renounce worldly life and embrace asceticism. They meet a guru, Vimalbahu, and take initiation. Through rigorous penance and spiritual practices, they eventually attain omniscience and liberation.

Authorship and Tradition:

Pandit Shri Padm Vijayji: The Ras was composed by Pandit Shri PadmVijayji, a renowned poet known for his melodious compositions, particularly devotional hymns and poems. He was a disciple of Muni Shri Uttamvijayji. His compositions effectively conveyed complex spiritual and philosophical ideas to the common people. The text provides a detailed biographical account of PadmVijayji, highlighting his travels, studies, and prolific literary output, which included numerous devotional poems, hymns, and narrative poems based on Jain scriptures.
Inspiration and Source Material: The story of Madan and Dhanadev is not original to PadmVijayji. It is based on earlier Jain traditions and texts, specifically mentioning its roots in the "Sumatinath Charitra" by Somprabhacharya (12th century) and further elaborated in "Jayanandakavali Charitra" by Sahasravadhani Shri Munisundarsuri.
Editorial Work: The Ras has been edited by Panyas Shri Ramanakvijayji Gani, who used a manuscript from the author's father's handwriting as the primary source, cross-referencing it with other available manuscripts.

Language and Style:

The language of the Ras is described as relatively modern Gujarati, making it easily understandable for the common audience of the 19th century. While the author is proficient in Sanskrit and Prakrit, the use of these languages is judicious, with Sanskrit and Prakrit words integrated in a way that their meaning is clear from the context. The poem employs various metrical patterns and poetic devices, contributing to its engaging narrative and devotional appeal. The description of nature, particularly the monsoon, is noted for its beauty and artistic merit.

Significance:

"Madan-Dhanadev-Ras" serves as a valuable example of Jain devotional literature that uses compelling narratives to convey spiritual messages. It reflects the Jain tradition of utilizing vernacular languages to spread religious teachings and inspire individuals towards a life of virtue and renunciation. The detailed biographical information about the author further adds to its scholarly and historical significance within Jain literature.