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Note on Ayaramga-Sutta

By Michihiko Yajima

Vol. 9 · No. 1-4April 1980 - January 1981pp. 69–75English

Summary

This philological note examines a verse from the Āyāraṃga‑sutta (Ācārāṅga‑sūtra), one of the earliest Jain canonical texts, and compares it with parallel passages in the Pāli canon. The verse in question contains the verb sahai/sak, which has been variously translated as ‘to tolerate,’ ‘to suffer’ or ‘not to allow.’ By analysing variant readings and earlier translations by scholars like Jacobi and Schubring, the author shows that the verb’s sense in this context is closer to ‘not to tolerate’ rather than the more passive ‘to endure.’ The paper details how the medieval editor W. Schubring recorded alternative readings and how later translators rendered the line differently. It further notes how the same verb appears in Pāli canonical texts with the meaning ‘to conquer’ or ‘to overcome’, often in ethical contexts where overcoming lust or discontent is extolled. The author argues that understanding the verb as connoting active resistance rather than passive acceptance better aligns with Jain ethical teachings, which emphasise the conquest of passions through self‑control. By tracing the usage of sahai in various Prakrit and Pāli sources, the note illustrates the challenges of translating early canonical literature and the importance of context and comparative philology. Such close reading sheds light on subtle doctrinal nuances and helps refine modern translations of Jain scriptures.

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Conclusion

The note highlights the value of meticulous textual criticism in clarifying doctrinal passages. Recognising the active sense of the verb ‘to overcome’ rather than ‘to endure’ underscores Jainism’s emphasis on conquering passions. Comparative philological studies like this improve our understanding of early Jain and Buddhist texts and remind us that small linguistic choices can have significant doctrinal implications.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “A Sloka line from Ayarathga sutta is reinterpreted in this paper with the belp of its parallel verse seen in a Pali canon.”
  • “It is to be noticed that the verb A/sah with indeclinable na is used here in the sense of “not to tolerate” (Jacobi) or “micht zu dulden™ (Schurbing), in other words, in the sense of “not to suffer, not to undergo, not to allow, not to be resigned”
  • “In Jaina and Buddhist canonical texts, as shown above, the usage of the verb a/sah is slightly different from each other., The verb is usually used in the sense of “fo conquer, overcome,” etc., in Pali canons, while it is usually used in the sense of “to bear, endure,” eic., in Jaina canons.”

Works cited in this article

  1. MN. L 33 = AN. V., 132, IV 291
  2. Utt. 2. 14, & 15
  3. Suttagame (2 vols., new Sthanakvasi ed., Gurgaon 1954)
  4. Antagadadasdo (in S3)
  5. Aupa-pattka-siitra (ed. by E, Leumaun, Lei- pzig 1883)

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In this issue

Vol. 9 · No. 1-4
1–39Haribhadra’s Synthesis of YogaShantilal M. Desai1–12जैन कर्म.... बन्धन और मुक्ति की प्रक्रियाSagarmal Jain1–95नरसिंह महेताना पद13–26जैन यक्षी अजिता (या रोहिणी) का प्रतिमानिरूपणSagarmal Jain27–33पाइअ-सद्द-महण्णवो में अनुपलब्ध वसुदेवहिण्डी की शब्दावलीK. R. Chandra34–35राणकपुर का प्राचीनतम उल्लेखRam Vallabh Somani36–39कर्मप्रकृति-टीकानी एक अमूल्य हस्तप्रतिMuniraj Shree Vidyavijaya40–51Buddhist and Jaina Concepts of Man and Society as Revealed in Their Religious LiteraturePadmanabh S. Jaini40–66श्रीन्यायसिद्धान्तप्रवेशकन्थिकाMuni Shilachandravijay52–55Haoma as a Plant in Avestan TextS. N. Ghosal56–68Main Features of Mahavira’s ContributionsSuzuko Ohira67–68पंचाख्यान के संशोधक पूर्णभद्रसूरि खरतर पूर्णभद्र नहीं थेAgar Chand Nahata69–75Note on Ayaramga-SuttaMichihiko YajimaCurrent article69–71कविवर नयसुन्दर एक अज्ञात रचना-नेमिनाथ वसंत विलासAgar Chand Nahata72–93स्वाध्याय-ReviewsHarivallabh Chunilal Bhayani, Nagin J Shah, Yajneshwar S. Shastri76–84Uttarajjhayana and Socio-Religious FormalismRam Prakash Poddar85–91Ajnapatra and Sanskrit Works on Polity-A ComparisonGanesh Thite92–95Some Special Aspects of jaina Philosophy as a School of Indian PhilosophyArvind Sharma94–96आ. जिनप्रभसूरि विरचित अंतरंग रासR. M. Shah96–103Parmara Sculpture in the British Museum-Vagdevi or Yakshi AmbikaKirit Mankodi

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