Dhammapada Verses in Uttarajjhaya 9
By Gustav Roth
Summary
Gustav Roth examines the presence of Dhammapada verses within the ninth chapter of the Jaina text Uttarajjhāyāna-sutta, focusing on the Nami-praveśaka-parvan. The author argues that these verses, particularly Utt. 9.14, represent highly ancient material belonging to a shared gnomic tradition of ancient India. Roth contends that the Uttara version of Utt. 9.14, which describes King Nami's response to Indra's admonishment about his burning palace, is the original composition that predates its incorporation into the Dhammapada. He supports this by comparing its archaic diction, such as the absence of the interjection "bata," with its Pali and Udanavarga parallels, specifically Pāli Dhp 15.4 and Uv 30.44. Roth rejects the view, attributed to Alsdorf, that the Uttara stanza was artificially constructed to accommodate the famous Dhammapada verse, asserting instead that the Dhammapada verses evolved from a preserved context found in Utt. 9.7-14. He further demonstrates this antiquity by tracing the Mithila-verse to the Mahābhārata, specifically MBh XII of the Poona edition, as noted by Brough. The article also analyzes Utt. 9.34, linking it to the Sahasra-varga and comparing its Prakrit and Sanskrit versions, including the Patna Prakrit Dhammapada, Gāndhārī Dhammapada, Mahāvastu, and Udanavarga, to argue for the antiquity of the Uttara and Udanavarga texts. Finally, Roth discusses Utt. 9.40 and 9.44, comparing their parallels in the Pāli Dhammapada, Patna Prakrit Dhammapada, Gāndhārī Dhammapada, and Udanavarga to highlight the close relationship between the Uttara and Udanavarga versions. The study relies on Charpentier's edition of the Uttarajjhāyāna-sutta, Jacobi's translation, Alsdorf's contributions, and various critical editions of the Dhammapada and Mahāvastu.
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Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the ninth chapter of the Jaina Uttarajjhaya preserves ancient gnomic poetry, specifically the Dhammapada verses, within a coherent narrative context. The analysis of Utt 9.14 reveals its superior antiquity compared to Pali and other versions, as it represents the original answer to Indra’s admonition rather than a later adaptation. Similarly, Utt 9.34, 9.40, and 9.44 exhibit close parallels with the Pali and other Prakrit Dhammapada collections, with the Uttarajjhaya and Uvargga versions showing the strongest mutual affinity. The findings suggest that these verses evolved from a shared contemporary tradition rather than being merely inserted for the sake of incorporating famous stanzas. This underscores the significance of the Uttarajjhaya as a vital repository for understanding the early development of Buddhist and Jaina ethical literature, preserving an ancient common stock of wisdom poetry that transcends sectarian boundaries.