Miscellany – The Adipurāṇa and Bṛhatkathā

Summary

This brief miscellany note compares two Jain and Sanskrit texts: the Adipurāṇa of Jinasena and the lost narrative cycle known as the Bṛhatkathā. The author summarises the contents of the Adipurāṇa, which recounts the lives of the first Jain Tīrthaṅkaras, especially Ṛṣabhanātha, and traces the genealogies of noble families. He points out that some stories found in the Adipurāṇa have parallels in the Bṛhatkathā tradition, known today primarily through adaptations like the Kathāsaritsāgara. Both works contain tales of adventurous princes, celestial beings and moral dilemmas, suggesting a shared reservoir of folklore circulating across religious communities. The article also notes differences: whereas the Bṛhatkathā is a secular romance replete with magical episodes, the Adipurāṇa frames its narratives within Jain ethical doctrines, emphasising renunciation and non‑violence. By juxtaposing passages, the author argues that Jain redactors adapted popular tales to promote didactic aims. He references manuscript evidence and earlier scholarship on intertextuality between Jain and Brahmanical literature. In conclusion, the note encourages further comparative work to map the diffusion of motifs among South Asian storytelling traditions.