Yashstilak Champoo Uttara Khand - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the Yashastilaka Champu, Uttara Khanda, authored by Somdev Suri and edited/translated by Sundarlal Shastri, as presented in the provided text. The summary covers the introductory sections, author's background, the plot outline, thematic analysis, and significant philosophical and religious discussions within the text.

Book Title: Yashstilak Champu Uttara Khand Author(s): Somdevsuri, Sundarlal Shastri Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Anekant Vidwat Parishad Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/090546/1

Overall Summary:

The Yashastilaka Champu is a significant Jain Mahakavya (epic poem) composed by Somdev Suri in 959 CE. It is also known as Yashodhara Maharaj Charitra, as it narrates the life story of Emperor Yashodhara of Ujjain. The work serves not only as a biographical account but also as a repository of knowledge encompassing various aspects of Indian culture, philosophy, politics, religion, and ethics, particularly highlighting Jain principles. The text is lauded for its rich Sanskrit prose and poetry, its intricate narrative, and its profound philosophical insights, making it a valuable resource for understanding medieval Indian society and Jainism.

Key Aspects Covered in the Provided Text:

1. Introduction and Praise (Pages 2-3):

The preface by Dr. Vasudev Sharan Agrawal places Yashastilaka Champu among the three most distinguished Sanskrit prose works, alongside Bana's Kadambari and Ghanapala's Tilakamanjari.
It praises Sundarlal Shastri's meticulous work in revising the original text and preparing a Hindi commentary, a task that took him 8-10 years and involved extensive research in ancient Jain libraries.
The text highlights the invaluable discovery of Yashastilaka Panjika by Shri Dev, a lexicon of difficult and rare words used in the Yashastilaka Champu.
The author, Somdev Suri, is presented as a highly learned Jain monk with exceptional command over Sanskrit, whose works (Yashastilaka Champu and Niti Vakyāmṛta) showcase profound intellect and vast knowledge.
Somdev Suri's historical context is provided: he was a disciple of Nemidev, lived during the reign of Rashtrakuta Emperor Krishna III (929-968 CE), and his patron was Prince Vadhyaraja (or Vahinga), son of Rana Arikasari. The work was composed in Gangadhara.
The Yashastilaka Champu is noted for its accurate depiction of the cultural milieu of its time and its significant contribution to understanding medieval Indian history, especially its detailed philosophical and religious discourse.

2. Plot Outline (Pages 3-5): The text provides a summary of the story, which spans multiple births for its characters:

Initial Episode: The story begins in the Yaudheya region where King Maridatta, advised by his priest Virabhairava, plans to sacrifice a young man and woman to appease his clan goddess Chandamari. Sudatta, a Jain ascetic, and his disciples, Prince Abhayasachi and his sister Abhayamati, are apprehended by the king's men. The prince reveals their identity and their spiritual lineage.
King Yashodhara's Story: The narrative then shifts to Ujjain, the capital of the Avanti region, where King Yashodhara rules. He abdicates his throne to his son Yashomati after seeing his white hair, and takes to the forest. Yashodhara's coronation is described, along with his marriage to Amritamati.
Amritamati's Betrayal: King Yashodhara discovers his queen Amritamati in a clandestine rendezvous with a mahavat (elephant keeper). This revelation leads him to renounce the world.
Consequences of Actions (Karmavipaka): Yashodhara and his mother Chandramati, due to a sin committed by sacrificing an artificial rooster to the goddess, are reborn in animal forms for three lifetimes (peacock/dog, fish, and then two roosters). Eventually, through the teachings of Acharya Sudatta, they recall their past lives and, as Abhayaruchi and Abhayamati, take diksha (renunciation) at a young age.
The Upaasakādhyayana (Pages 5, 15-20): The final three Āśvāsas (chapters 6, 7, and 8) are dedicated to the Upaasakādhyayana, which expounds the duties of householders (upāsakas) in forty-six kalpas (chapters). This section provides a detailed exposition of Jain Dharma, covering:
- Chapter 6: Twenty-one kalpas covering fundamental principles.
- Chapter 7: Twenty-two kalpas explaining the consequences of vices like drinking, theft, and violence, and virtues like restraint. It includes several illustrative narratives.
- Chapter 8: Fifteen kalpas continuing the narrative, covering topics like Sāmāyika (meditation and equanimity), Proṣadha Upavāsa (fasting), Bhogopabhoga Parimāṇa Vrata (restriction on consumables), Dāna Vidhi (charity), classification of śrāvakas (lay followers), and Sallekhanā (graceful death). It also offers unique explanations of Jain practices and philosophical concepts.

3. Philosophical and Religious Discussions:

Jain Doctrine: The Yashastilaka Champu is a rich source for understanding Jain philosophy, ethics, and practices, particularly the principles of Ahimsa (non-violence), Anekānta (non-absolutism), Aparigraha (non-possession), and Syādvāda (the doctrine of conditioned predication).
Critique of Other Religions: Somdev Suri engages in scholarly debates with other contemporary religious and philosophical traditions like Kapalikas, Kalamukhas, Charvakas, and Baudhas, presenting their doctrines and refuting them with Jain principles. The text highlights the Jain emphasis on Ahimsa and criticizes Vedic practices involving animal sacrifice, as demonstrated in the dialogue between Yashodhar and his mother Chandramati (Pages 15-16, 50-71, 85-94, 151-164, 170-180, 191-208).
The Nature of Reality: The text delves into discussions on the nature of reality, soul, karma, liberation (moksha), and the existence of God, often through the lens of Jain metaphysics and epistemology. The critique of other philosophies like Sankhya and Bauddha (Pages 164-166, 191-208) is particularly notable.
Importance of Conduct: The work emphasizes that true virtue lies not just in external rituals but in the internal purity of conduct and the cultivation of virtues like prema (love), vairāgya (detachment), and tapas (asceticism).

4. Literary and Cultural Significance:

Literary Style: The Yashastilaka Champu is admired for its sophisticated Sanskrit prose and poetic verses, its extensive use of śleṣa (puns) and other figures of speech, and its detailed and evocative descriptions of nature, courtly life, and warfare. The text mentions the author's conscious effort to emulate and even surpass the descriptions in Kadambari.
Cultural Repository: The work provides invaluable insights into the political systems, social customs, economic activities, artistic expressions, and religious landscape of medieval India. It details aspects of statecraft, warfare, courtly pleasures, festivals, and the lives of various social strata.
Linguistic Value: The inclusion of rare and technical Sanskrit words, as discussed in the preface and the author's discussion of vocabulary (Page 6), makes the text a significant linguistic resource.

5. The Translator/Editor's Contribution (Pages 8-15):

Sundarlal Shastri's dedication to this work is highlighted, emphasizing his 8-10 years of rigorous effort in researching manuscripts from various locations like Jaipur, Nagaur, Sikar, Ajmer, and Badnagar.
He points out the inaccuracies in earlier published editions and stresses the importance of the discovered manuscripts and the Yashastilaka Panjika.
The Hindi commentary (Yashastilaka Deepika) is described as a result of deep study, contemplation, and research, aiming to preserve the original spirit of Somdev Suri's work with word-for-word accuracy in translation.
The preface and editorial notes detail the critical analysis and correction of the Sanskrit text based on multiple manuscript readings, providing valuable textual criticism for scholars.

In essence, the Yashastilaka Champu, as presented through this text, is a monumental work that offers a holistic view of Jainism and medieval Indian culture, brought to life through the scholarly efforts of Sundarlal Shastri.