On the Antiquity and Original Parts of the 'Puṇḍarīka Adhyayana,' Sūtrakṛtāṅga (II)

Summary

This article examines the second āṅga, Sūtrakṛtāṅga, focusing on the chapter known as the Puṇḍarīka‑adhyayana. M. A. Dhaky argues that the extant text is composite, containing three distinct strata. The oldest layer, represented by sūtras 638–643, shows a markedly archaic style comparable to passages in the Ācārāṅga and likely dates to the fifth century BCE. An intermediate layer reads like an early bhāṣya: it sets Mahāvīra’s allegory of a lotus pond into narrative form, equating the pond with the world, the water with karma, mud with sensual enjoyment and the white lotuses with worldly beings. Four men from different creeds fail to reach the central lotus because each sinks into the mud of ignorance, whereas a fifth figure – a monk with knowledge of the dharma – commands the lotus to fly upward, symbolising spiritual liberation. The youngest stratum comprises an expository portion that elaborates the allegory and links it to the Mahāvīra‑stava. Dhaky compares language, metre and doctrinal content across strata to establish their relative chronology, noting that translations into modern languages often conflate these layers. By separating the strata and analysing their allegorical imagery, the author demonstrates how early Jain authors used narrative to transmit complex metaphysical ideas. The paper closes by calling for critical editions that respect the antiquity of the oldest portions while acknowledging later accretions. Such philological work is essential for understanding the development of Jain doctrines and appreciating the literary artistry of early Prakrit texts.