The Path of Renunciation: King Nami's Journey and the Fleeting Nature of Life: From the Sacred Jain Scripture - Uttaradhyayana, Part 1 of 2

The path to enlightenment requires renouncing external distractions and focusing on conquering one's inner desires, such as pride, anger, and greed. We now present selections from the sacred Jain scripture Uttaradhyayana, from the book “Sacred Books of the East Volume 45:” Jaina Sutras, Part 2, translated by Hermann Jacobi.

NINTH LECTURE THE PRAVRAGYÂ OF KING NAMI.

In Jainism, Pravragyâ is a term for initiation or renunciation of worldly life to pursue spirituality.

“After (Nami) had descended from the world of the gods, and had been born as a man, He put an end to the influence of delusion, and remembered His former birth. Remembering His former birth, king Nami became a Svayamsam buddha in the true Law, and placing His son on the throne He retired from the world.

After having enjoyed […] excellent pleasures which match those of the heavens, king Nami became enlightened and gave up His pleasures. Having given up the town and country of Mithilâ, His army, seraglio, and all His retinue, the Venerable man retired from the world and resorted to a lonely place. When the royal Seer Nami retired from the world, at the occasion of His Pravragyâ there was an uproar in Mithilâ.”

Lord Indra (Sakra) Lord of the Devas

“To the royal Seer who had reached the excellent stage of Pravragyâ, Sakra in the guise of a Brâhmana (a member of the highest caste) addressed the following words: ‘Why is now Mithilâ full of uproar? Dreadful noises are heard from palaces and houses.’ On hearing this, the royal Seer Nami, pursuing His reasons and arguments, answered the King of the gods thus: ‘In Mithilâ is the sacred tree Manôrama, full of leaves, flowers, and fruits, which sheds a cool shadow; this tree is always a favourite resort of many (birds). Now, as this sacred tree Manôrama is shaken by the storm, the birds, suffering, destitute of refuge, and miserable, scream aloud.’

On hearing this, the King of gods, pursuing his reasons and arguments, answered the royal Seer Nami thus: ‘This is fire and storm, Your palace is on fire! Reverend sir, why do You not look after Your seraglio?’ Nami answered ‘Happy are we, happy live we who call nothing our own; when Mithilâ is on fire, nothing is burned that belongs to me. To a monk who has left his sons and wives, and who has ceased to act, nothing pleasant can occur, nor anything unpleasant. There is much happiness for the sage, for the houseless monk, who is free from all ties, and knows himself to be single and unconnected (with the rest of the world).’ Indra answered ‘Erect a wall, gates, and battlements; dig a moat; construct sataghnîs (preparing oneself for battle or defense) then You will be a kshattriya (a warrior and ruler).’

Nami answered ‘Making Faith his fortress, Penance and Self-control the bolt (of its gate), Patience its strong wall, so that guarded in three ways it is impregnable; making Zeal his bow, its string Carefulness in walking (iriyâ), and its top (where the string is fastened) Content, he should bend (this bow) with Truth, piercing with the arrow, Penance, (the foe's) mail, Karman--(in this way) a sage will be the victor in battle and get rid of the Samsâra (cycle of death and rebirth).’[…]”