Samraiccha Kaha Chattha Bhavo

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Samraiccha Kaha Chattha Bhavo" by M. C. Modi, based on the provided text:

Book Title: Samraiccha Kaha Chattha Bhavo (Samaraiccaha): The Sixth Chapter of the Story of Samarāiccha Author: Haribhadra Sūri Editor/Translator: M. C. Modi Publisher: Gurjar Granthratna Karyalay, Ahmedabad Year of Publication: 1936 Context: This volume presents the sixth chapter of the famous religious romance "Samaraicchakaha" by Haribhadra Sūri. The entire work, comprising nine chapters, narrates the lives of two protagonists, Agnis'arman and Gunasena, and their various births driven by their actions and resolutions. This particular chapter focuses on the sixth birth of this pair.

Summary of the Sixth Birth (Dharana and Laxmi):

The sixth birth narrates the story of Dharana and Laxmi.

• Dharana's Birth and Early Life: Dharana is born as the son of a wealthy and virtuous merchant named Bandhudatta and his wife Haraprabha in the city of Mākandi. His birth is foretold by his mother's dream of the goddess of wealth entering her womb. Dharana grows up to be a clever and religiously inclined young man, skilled in various arts.

• Laxmi's Birth and Marriage to Dharana: In this birth, the soul that was previously Agnis'arman is born as Laxmi, the daughter of merchant Kārtika. Due to past life impressions and an innate hatred towards Dharana, Laxmi is married to Dharana with great pomp, but she lacks any affection for him.

• The Tussle and the Business Venture: Dharana and Devanandi, another merchant's son, engage in a prideful dispute over right of way for their chariots at the city gate. To resolve this, they agree to a year-long business competition. The one who earns more wealth will have the right of way the following year. They each set out with goods worth five lacs of Dināras, accompanied by their wives.

• Dharana's Journeys and Acts of Merit:

  • Encounter with Hemakundala: Dharana meets a Vidyadhara youth named Hemakundala who is struggling to recall a mantra for flying. Dharana, with his exceptional memory and understanding, helps him correct the mantra. In return, Hemakundala gives Dharana a piece of a magical herb.
  • Saving Kālasena: Dharana uses the magical herb to heal Kālasena, a tribal chief whose head was badly fractured in a duel with a lion. Kālasena, grateful, vows to give up hunting and later helps Dharana when his caravan is attacked.
  • Saving Maurya: Dharana intervenes to save an innocent Chandala named Maurya from execution, securing his release from the king. Maurya, obligated to Dharana, pledges his future help.
  • The S'abara Attack: Dharana's caravan is attacked by S'abaras. Many prisoners are taken, and their goods looted. Kālasena, upon realizing that Dharana was his benefactor, seeks to find him and restore what was lost.
  • Laxmi's Hardship and Dharana's Sacrifice: Dharana and Laxmi, after the caravan's destruction, wander in a forest. Laxmi faints from thirst. Dharana, in an act of extreme self-sacrifice, draws his own blood and flesh to sustain her life and quench her thirst, using the magical herb for healing.
  • The Yaksa Temple and Chandarudra: They reach Mahāsara and stay at a Yaksa temple. Laxmi, still harboring hatred for Dharana, helps a thief named Chandarudra to escape arrest by giving him water and a magical pill. Chandarudra leaves stolen jewels near the sleeping Dharana.
  • Dharana's False Accusation and Release: Dharana is arrested by policemen for the theft and sentenced to execution. However, Maurya, the Chandala he had previously saved, recognizes Dharana and releases him out of gratitude.
  • Dharana's Return and Reconciliation with Laxmi: Laxmi, abandoned by Chandarudra, encounters Dharana, who, despite her past malice, takes her back. They head towards her maternal uncle's place in Dantapura.
  • Kālasena's Vow and Dharana's Self-Sacrifice: Kālasena, preparing to enter fire to fulfill his vow, hears of Dharana's plight. Dharana, at the Chandika temple, offers himself as a human sacrifice to save another boy. Kālasena recognizes Dharana and becomes joyful. Dharana advises Kālasena to practice non-violence.
  • The Journey to Suvarna-dvipa: Dharana, after returning home and spending his wealth on good deeds, embarks on a journey to earn more. His ship is wrecked in a storm, and he lands on Suvarna-dvipa, where he discovers soil that turns into gold. He prepares gold blocks.
  • The Demoness and Rescue: While on Suvarna-dvipa, Dharana is taken aboard a ship belonging to Suvadana, who also takes Laxmi. A demoness demands a human sacrifice for her wealth. Dharana offers himself to save Suvadana. However, Hemakundala, whom Dharana had previously helped, rescues him from the demoness.
  • The Jewels and the Kinnara Friend: Hemakundala learns about Dharana's situation and decides to help him meet Laxmi. He takes Dharana to Ratna-dvipa to meet his friend Sulochana, a Kinnara, who promises to arrange a meeting with Laxmi in Devapura.
  • Dharana's Imprisonment and Release: Dharana deposits his jewels with a merchant named Toppa. Suvadana, tempted by Laxmi and the gold, schemes to kill Dharana. Laxmi, still driven by hatred, conspires with Suvadana. Dharana is drugged and nearly killed, but survives. He is arrested and accused of theft. Toppa vouches for Dharana, and the king orders the gold blocks to be broken, revealing Dharana's name marked inside. Suvadana is sentenced to death but spared by Dharana's mercy, while Laxmi is banished.
  • Dharana's Return and Renunciation: Dharana is restored to his property. He then forgives Suvadana and gives him gold. After settling his affairs, Dharana embraces the life of a hermit, inspired by the virtuous teacher Arahadatta.

• Arahadatta's Tale: Arahadatta, the teacher, narrates his own past lives to illustrate the difficulties in attaining knowledge and the consequences of actions. He recounts the story of a god who, due to malice towards his teacher, is born in successive unfavorable births, eventually becoming Mūka. This tale highlights the importance of right belief and the severe repercussions of spiritual ignorance and malice.

• Dharana's Final Renunciation and Birth in Heaven: Dharana, having achieved worldly success and spiritual understanding, takes to a life of strict asceticism. He experiences further challenges and continues his path. Laxmi, after her banishment, is eventually killed by a lion and is born in a hellish realm. Dharana, through extreme austerities and fasting, passes away and is reborn as a god in the heaven Arana.

Key Themes and Significance:

• Karma and Rebirth: The core of the narrative revolves around the Jain doctrine of Karma, illustrating how actions in one life influence future births and experiences. The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth driven by desires and actions is a central theme.
• Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra): The story emphasizes the importance of right knowledge, right belief, and right conduct as outlined in Jainism. Dharana's journey, marked by his virtuous actions, self-sacrifice, and eventual renunciation, exemplifies this path.
• Renunciation (Pravrajya): The text highlights the ultimate goal of renunciation as a means to achieve liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. Dharana's embrace of the hermit's life represents the culmination of his spiritual journey.
• Moral Lessons: The narrative provides numerous moral lessons on honesty, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, and the consequences of negative emotions like hatred, greed, and pride. Laxmi's downfall serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of hatred and attachment.
• The Power of Speech and Knowledge: The text subtly underscores the importance of correct knowledge and the power of virtuous speech, as seen in Dharana's ability to recall mantras and his interactions with others.
• Haribhadra Sūri's Style: Haribhadra Sūri, a learned scholar, weaves religious teachings within an engaging narrative, making the text a "Dharmakatha" (religious romance). The language is Maharastri Prakrit, although it sometimes uses long Sanskrit compounds.

In essence, the sixth chapter of "Samaraiccha Kaha" presents a detailed account of Dharana's righteous path, his encounters with various individuals and adversities, and his ultimate spiritual attainment, contrasted with Laxmi's suffering due to her negative actions and disposition.