Some Jaina Canonical Sutras c29.2

c29.2

The *Dasaveyāliya Sūya*¹ (*Daśavaikālika Sūtra*) is one of the four *mūlasūtras* of the Śvetāmbara āgama. Sejjambhava is said to have been the author of this book which contains in a nutshell tenets of Jainism. This text was originally compiled in order to give his son Mānaka the chance of grasping the essence of Jainism within a short period of six months at the end of which he was to die.² Sejjambhava (Śeyambhava) was the pupil of Prabhava who was the pupil of Jambu. Jambu was the pupil of Sudharman who was Mahāvīra’s immediate disciple. The year 98 after the death of Mahāvīra may be counted as the date when the *Dasaveyāliyasūya* was written.³ The gist of the āgama teaching which it gives was thoroughly mastered by Sejjambhava together with the traditional expositions and interpretations. This *sūtra* enunciates the noblest principles of the Jaina faith which emphasizes with equal force right knowledge and right conduct as its constituents. Some of the sayings regarding the monastic life contained in this *sūtra* remind us of the sayings in the Buddhist *Dhammapada* and the *Mokṣadharma* section of the *Śāntiparvan* of the *Mahābhārata*. This text is divided into ten *ajjhayanas*. The Chapters I–III, V–VIII and X are written entirely in verse. The topics discussed are the following: Flowers, monkhood, conduct, six groups of living beings, search for food, exposition of *dharma*, purity of speech, restriction to conduct, devotion to discipline and saintship.