Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra Part 3

The provided text is the third volume of the Hindi translation of Acharya Hemachandra's Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra (Lives of the Sixty-three Great Men). Specifically, it covers Paryusha 3 and 4, Volume 3, detailing the lives of thirteen Tirthankaras, two Chakravartis, five Vasudevas, five Baladevas, and five Prativasudevas.

Here's a breakdown of the content based on the provided pages:

General Information (Pages 1-8):

• Title: Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra (त्रिषष्टि शलाका पुरुष-चरित)
• Author of Original Work: Acharya Hemachandracharya (श्री हेमचन्द्राचार्य)
• Translators: Shri Ganesh Lalwani (श्री गणेश ललवानी) and Shrimati Rajkumari Bengani (श्रीमती राजकुमारी बेगानी). The original translation seems to be from Prakrit into Bengali by Ganesh Lalwani, and then into Hindi by Rajkumari Bengani.
• Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy, Jaipur and Shri Jain Shwetamber Nakoda Parshvanath Tirth, Mevanagar.
• Content of this Volume: Covers Tirthankaras from Sambhavanatha to Dharmanatha (Tirthankaras 3-15), two Chakravartis (Maghavan and Sanatkumara), and the five Vasudevas, Baladevas, and Prativasudevas associated with this period.
• Significance: The Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra is a monumental work by the renowned Jain scholar Hemachandracharya, detailing the lives of the 63 most significant figures in Jain cosmology. This particular volume focuses on a segment of these great souls.
• Purpose: The work aims to provide inspiration and guidance through the exemplary lives of these Tirthankaras and other great individuals.
• Historical Context: Acharya Hemachandra lived in the 12th century and was a versatile scholar who influenced Chalukyan kings like Siddharaja and Kumarapala, promoting Jain principles and Ahimsa. The work was commissioned by King Kumarapala.

Detailed Summary of the Lives Covered (Based on the Table of Contents and Text):

Part 3 (Paryusha 3 - Third Tirthankara to Tenth Tirthankara):

• Chapter 1: Bhagavan Sambhavanatha Charitra (भगवान् सम्भवनाथ का चरित)
  • Describes the birth, virtuous reign, and renunciation of Lord Sambhavanatha.
  • Highlights his compassionate nature, just rule, and exemplary conduct as a king.
  • Details a severe famine in his kingdom and the king's efforts to alleviate the suffering, particularly by ensuring food for the religious community (Sangh). This act of charity led him to earn Tirthankara karma.
  • Recounts a philosophical observation of the king about the transient nature of worldly things through the example of a fleeting cloud.
  • His contemplation on the impermanence of life leads to his renunciation and attainment of spiritual liberation.
• Chapter 2: Bhagavan Abhinandan Charitra (भगवान् अभिनन्दन का चरित)
  • Focuses on Lord Abhinandanath, his birth, and his reign.
  • The text describes his pure life and eventual renunciation.
  • The chapter also mentions the life of his father, King Samvara, who became a Muni after renouncing his kingdom and attained a heavenly life.
• Chapter 3: Bhagavan Sumatinatha Charitra (भगवान् सुमतिनाथ का चरित)
  • Details the life of Lord Sumatinatha.
  • The text elaborates on the king's devotion to dharma and his compassionate rule.
• Chapter 4: Bhagavan Padmaprabh Charitra (भगवान् पद्मप्रभ का चरित)
  • Covers the life of Lord Padmaprabh.
  • The narrative includes the king's virtuous life, detachment from worldly pleasures, and his eventual renunciation.
  • It also touches upon the concept of detachment through the example of a king who renounced his kingdom.
• Chapter 5: Bhagavan Suparshvanatha Charitra (भगवान् सुपार्श्वनाथ का चरित)
  • Describes the life of Lord Suparshvanatha.
  • The text emphasizes his compassionate nature and righteous conduct.
• Chapter 6: Bhagavan Chandrprabh Charitra (भगवान् चन्द्रप्रभ का चरित)
  • Details the life of Lord Chandrprabh.
  • The narrative highlights his detachment from worldly affairs and his spiritual journey.
• Chapter 7: Bhagavan Suvidhinatha Charitra (भगवान् सुविधिनाथ का चरित)
  • Covers the life of Lord Suvidhinatha.
  • The text portrays his exemplary conduct and spiritual pursuits.
• Chapter 8: Bhagavan Shitalanatha Charitra (भगवान् शीतलनाथ का चरित)
  • Details the life of Lord Shitalanatha.
  • The chapter likely emphasizes his name suggesting coolness or peace and his role in alleviating suffering.

Part 4 (Paryusha 4 - Continuing Tirthankaras and Other Shalaka Purushas):

• Chapter 1: Bhagavan Shreyansanatha evam Pratham-Tṛipṛṣṭha Vasudev, Achala Baladev tatha Ashvagriva Pratīvasudev ka Charitra (भगवान् श्रेयांसनाथ एवं प्रथम-त्रिपृष्ठ वासुदेव, अचल बलदेव तथा अश्वग्रीव प्रतिवासुदेव का चरित)
  • Covers Lord Shreyansanatha.
  • Introduces the first Vasudeva (Triprishtha), the first Baladeva (Achala), and the first Prativasudeva (Ashvagriva), likely detailing their conflicts and roles.
• Chapter 2: Bhagavan Vasupujya aur Dvitiya-Dvṛipṛṣṭha Vasudev, Vijaya Baladev evam Taraka Pratīvasudev ka Charitra (भगवान् वासुपूज्य और द्वितीय-द्विपृष्ठ वासुदेव, विजय बलदेव एवं तारक प्रतिवासुदेव का चरित)
  • Covers Lord Vasupujya.
  • Details the second Vasudeva (Dvīprishtha), the second Baladeva (Vijaya), and the second Prativasudeva (Tarak).
• Chapter 3: Bhagavan Vimalanatha evam Tritiya-Svayambhu Vasudev, Bhadra Baladev aur Meraka Pratīvasudev ka Jeevan Charitra (भगवान् विमलनाथ एवं तृतीय-स्वयम्भू वासुदेव, भद्र बलदेव और मेरक प्रतिवासुदेव का जीवन चरित)
  • Covers Lord Vimalanatha.
  • Details the third Vasudeva (Svayambhu), the third Baladeva (Bhadra), and the third Prativasudeva (Meraka).
• Chapter 4: Bhagavan Anantanatha aur Chaturtha-Purushottam Vasudev, Suprabha Baladev evam Madhu Pratīvasudev ka Charitra (भगवान् अनन्तनाथ और चतुर्थ-पुरुषोत्तम वासुदेव, सुप्रभ बलदेव एवं मधु प्रतिवासुदेव का चरित)
  • Covers Lord Anantanatha.
  • Details the fourth Vasudeva (Purushottama), the fourth Baladeva (Suprabha), and the fourth Prativasudeva (Madhu).
• Chapter 5: Bhagavan Dharmanatha evam Panchama-Purushasimha Vasudev, Sudarshana Baladev tatha Nishumbha Pratīvasudev ka Varnan (भगवान् धर्मनाथ एवं पंचम-पुरुषसिंह वासुदेव, सुदर्शन बलदेव तथा निशुम्भ प्रतिवासुदेव का वर्णन)
  • Covers Lord Dharmanatha.
  • Details the fifth Vasudeva (Purushsimha), the fifth Baladeva (Sudarshana), and the fifth Prativasudeva (Nishumbha).
• Chapter 6: Tritiya Chakravarti Maghava ka Charitra (तृतीय चक्रवर्ती मघवा का चरित)
  • Describes the life of the third Chakravarti, Maghavan.
• Chapter 7: Chaturtha Chakravarti Sanatkumara ka Jeevan Charitra (चतुर्थ चक्रवर्ती सनत्कुमार का जीवन चरित्र)
  • Details the life of the fourth Chakravarti, Sanatkumara.

Overall Theme:

The text systematically narrates the lives of these significant figures, highlighting their virtues, challenges, spiritual journeys, and their roles within the Jain cosmic timeline. The emphasis is on their adherence to dharma, their renunciation of worldly desires, and their ultimate attainment of liberation or heavenly abodes, serving as a source of inspiration and moral teaching for the readers. The detailed descriptions of their birth, reigns, spiritual practices, and divine interventions (like the birth miracles and celestial ceremonies) are characteristic of hagiographical literature in Jainism.