Mangalasutra: Precepts On The Auspicious
Mangalasutra: Precepts On The Auspicious
Mangalasutra: Precepts On The Auspicious
Mangalasutra
PRECEPTS ON THE AUSPICIOUS
Ghanaghaikammamahana, tihuvanavarabhavvakamalamattanda.
Ariha anantanani, anuvamasokkha jayantu jae. (7)
May there be glory in this world to the Worthy Souls (Arhats) who have destroyed the dense of
destructive Karmas, who like the sun bloom forth the louts like hearts of devoted persons capable of
liberation, and who are possessed of infinite knowledge and excellent bliss. (7)
2. Jinasasanasutra
PRECEPTS ON JINA’S TEACHINGS
3. Sanghasutra
PRECEPTS OF RELIGIOUS ORDER
Kammarayajalohaviniggayassa, suyarayanadihanalassa.
Pancamahavvayathirakanniyassa, gunakesaralassa.
Savagajanamahuyaraparivudassa, jinasurateyabuddhassa.
Samghapaumassa bhaddam, samanaganasahassapattassa. (30-31)
May the lotus like Sangha prosper which keeps itself aloof from the Karmic-dirt just as a lotus keeps
itself away from the mud and water. The Sangha is a lotus whose long stalk is scriptures, the paricarp
is the five great vows the filoments are the other virtues and petals are the munis (monks) As the
black bees move around the lotus similarly the house-holders frequent the Sanghs. As the lotus
blossoms on account of the sunrays, similarly the Sangha grows on account of the precepts of Jina.
(30-31)
4. Nirupanasutra
PRECEPTS ON SCRIPTURAL EXPOSITION
5. Samsaracakrasutra
PRECEPTS ON THE TRANSMIGRATORY CYCLE
Bhogamisadosavisanne, hiyanisseyasabuddhivoccatthe.
Bale ya mandiye mudhe, bajjhai macchiya va khelammi. (50)
He who is immersed in carnal pleasures becomes perverted in knowing what is beneficial and condu-
cive to spiritual welfare, becomes ignorant, dull and infatuated and entangles himself in his own
Karamas like a fly cought in phlegm. (50)
6. Karmasutra
PRECEPTS ON KARMS
Explanation: This verse explains the nature of the eight karmas thus:
(1) The knowledge-obscuring karma, is like a curtain which prevents a person from knowing what is
inside a room;
(2) The darsanavaraniya karma prevents a person from apprehension like a door-keeper who pre-
sents one from seeing a dignitary;
(3) Vedaniya karma is the couse of pleasure and pain like a sword smeared with honey which while
licking becomes the cause of pleasure due to honey and pain as there is chance of an injury to the
tongue;
(4) Mohaniya karma causes delusion as does wine;
(5) The Ayu karma keeps the soul tied down to a body, just as the wooden-fetters on legs keep the
person tied down to a place until they are removed;
(6) Nama-karma cause the soul to enter different kinds of bodies, just as a painter paints different
pictures;
(7) Gotra-karma is responsible for birth in high or low families just as a potter prepares small or big
pots;
(8) The Antaraya karma prevents a person from doing good deeds just as treasurer prevents his
master from making gift sand donations.
7.Mithyatvasutra
PRECEPTS ON WRONG FAITH
8. Raga-pariharasutra
PRECEPTS ON RENUNCIATION OF ATTACHMENT
Bahubhayamkaradosanam, sammattacarittagunavinasanam,
Na hu vasamagantavvam, ragaddosana pavanam. (75)
One should not be under the influence of attachmentaversion which are formidabel defects, destruc-
tive of right faith, right conduct and other virtues. (75)
9.Dharmasutra
PRECEPTS ON RELIGION
Dukkham hayam jassa na hoi moho, moho hao jass ana hoi tanha.
Tanha haya jassa na hoi loho, loho hao jass ana kimcanaim. (110)
He who has got rid of delusion has his misery destroyed, he who has got rid of craving has his
delusion destroyed. He who has got rid of greed has his craving destroyed, he who owns nothing has
his greed destroyed. (110)
10. Samyamasutra
PRECEPTS ON SELF-RESTRAINT
11.Aparigrahasutra
PRECEPTS ON NON-POSSESSIVENESS
Samganimittam marai, bhanai aliam karei corikkam.
Sevai mehuna muccham, apparimanam kunai jivo. (140)
Owing to attachment, a person commits violence, tells lies, commits theft, indulges in sex and devel-
ops a with for unlimited hoarding. (140)
12. Ahimsasutra
PRECEPTS ON NON-VIOLENCE
14. Siksasutra
PRECEPTS ON EDUCATION
Vannarasagandhaphasa, thipumsanavunsayadi-pajjaya.
Samthana samhanana. savve jivassa no santi. (183)
The soul has no colour; no taste, no smell, no touch, no gender like male, female or neuter; no bodily
form and no bone-structure. (183)
16. Moksamargasutra
PRECEPTS ON THE PATH OF LIBERATION
17. Ratnatrayasutra
PRECEPTS ON THREE JEWELS
(A) VYAVAHARA-RATNATRAYA
The three jewels understood from the stand-point of vyavahara-naya (practical view-point).
(B) NISCAYA-RATNATRAYA
The three jewels understood from the standpoint of niscaya-naya (real view-point.)
18. Samyag-Darsana-Sutra
PRECEPTS OF RIGHT FAITH
(A) VYAVAHARA-SAMYAKTAVA : NISCYA-SAMYAKTVA
Sammattarayanasaram, mokkhamaharukkhamulamidi bhaniyam.
Tam janijjai nicchaya-vavaharasaruvadobheyam. (219)
Right Faith is the core of the three jewels; it is the root of the great tree of liberation; it has to be
understood from two point of views-real point of view (Niscaya-naya) and empirical point of view
(vyavaharanaya). (219
Uvabhogamimidiyehim, davvanamacedananamidaranam.
Jam kunadi sammaditthi, tam savvam nijjaranimittam. (228)
Whatever use of living or non-living objects, a amn of Right Faith may make through his senses, is all
for getting release from the Karmas. (228)
(B) SAMYAGDARSANA-ANGA
Essential requisites of Right Faith
Nissamkiya nikkamkhiya nivvitigiccha amudhaditthi ya.
Uvabuha thirikarane, vacchalla pabhavane attha. (231)
The eight essential requisites of Right Faith are: absence of doubt, absence of longing, absence of
contempt, absence of confusion, absence of belief in heretical sects, stabilization, affection and exal-
tation. (231)
Sammaditthi jiva, nissamka homti nibbhaya tena.
Sattabhayavippamukka, jamha tamha du nissamka. (232)
The persons possessed of Right Faith are free from doubts and are therefore fearless. Because of
their freedom from seven fears, they are free from doubts. (232)
(Note:- The seven fears are: fear of life on earth, fear of next life, fear of being unprotected, fear of
absence of control, fear of pain, fear of accident and fear of death.)
19. Samyagjnanasutra
PRECEPTS ON RIGHT KNOWLEDGE
20.Samyakcaritrasutra
PRECEPTS ON RIGHT CONDUCT
(A) VYAVAHARA-CARITRA
Practical view-point
(B) NISCAYA-CARITRA
Real view-point
(I) SAMANVAYA
Synthesis
21. Sadhanasutra
PRECEPTS ON SPIRITUAL REALIZATION
23. Sravakadharmasutra
PRECEPTS ON HOUSEHOLDERS’S RELIGION
Sampattadamsanai, paidiyaham jaijana sunei ya.
Samayarim paramam jo, khalu tam savagam bimti. (301)
He is called a Sravaka (householder) who, being endowed with right faith, listens every day to the
preachings of the monks about right conduct. (301)
24. Sramanadharmasutra
PRECEPTS ON RELIGION OF MONKS
(A) SAMATA
Equanimity
Samano tti samjado tti ya, risi muni sadhu tti vidarago tti.
Namani suvihidanam, anagara bhadamta damto tti. (336)
Sramana, Samyata, Rsi, Muni, Sadhu, Vitaraga, Anagara, Bhadanta and Danta, these are designa-
tions used for monks with ideal behaviours. (336)
Siha-gaya-vasaha-miya-pasu, maruda-suruvahi-mamdarimdu-mani.
Khidi-uragamvarasarisa, parama-paya-vimaggaya sahu. (337)
Monks who are in search of the supreme path of liberation, resembel a lion (in fearlessness), an
elephant (in dignity), a bull (in strength), a deer (in uprightness), a beast (in freedom from attach-
ment), the wind (in being companionless), the sun (in brilliance), an ocean (in serenity), the Mandara
Mountain (in firmness) the moon (in coolness), a diamond (in lustre), the earth (in patience), a serpent
(in being houseless) and the sky (in not being dependent). (337)
(B) VESA-LINGA
External Appearance Or Distinguishing Marks
25. Vratasutra
THE PRECEPTS ON VOWS
Ahimsa saccam ca atenagam ca, tatto ya bambham apariggaham ca.
Padivajjiya pamca mahavvayani, carijja dhammam jinadesiyam viu. (364)
A wise monk, after adopting the five great vows of non-voilence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy
and non-possessiveness, should practise the religion preached by the Jina. (364)
Mulameamahammassa, mahadosasamussayam.
Tamha mehunasamsaggim, niggamtha vajjayamti nam. (373)
Since sexual intercourse is the root of all irreligiosity and is of the form of a massive accumulation of
great defects, the monks invariably refrain there from. (373)
26. Samiti-Guptisutra
PRECEPTS ON CAREFULNESS (SAMITI) AND SELF-CONTROL (GUPTI)
(A) ASTA-PRAVACANA-MATA
Eight Mother Precepts
(B) SAMITI
Acts of Carefulness
Pesunnahasakakkasa-paranimdappappasamsa vikahadi.
vajjitta saparahiyam, bhasasamidi have kahanam. (402)
Carefulness in speech (bhasasamiti) consists in avoiding slanderous, ridiculous and speeches blaming
others, self-praise or incredible stories. Such speeches conduce neither to the good of oneself nor
that of others. (402)
Dittham miyam asamdiddham, padipunnam viyamjiyam.
Ayampiramanuvviggam, bhasam nisira attavam. (403)
A wise monk would speak what he has seen; his speech should be frief, free from ambiguity, clearly
expressed, free from prattle and incapable of causing anxiety. (403)
27. Avasyakasutra
PRECEPTS ON OBLIGATORY DUTIES
Paricatta parabhavam, appanam jhadi nimmalasahavam.
Appavaso so hodi hu, tassa du kammam bhanamti avasam. (417)
He who contemplates over the pure nature of soul after renouncing all alien states of mind, becomes
really engrossed in himself; this act is called a (real) “obligatory duty”. (417)
28. Tapasutra
PRECEPTS ON PENANCE
(A) BAHYATAPA
External Penance
Egamtamanavae, itthipasuvivajjie.
Sayanasanasevanaya, vivittasayanasanam. (451)
The penance of having his bed and seat in a solitary and unfrequented place, shunned by women and
animals, is called Viviktasayyasana (i.e. solitary residence). (451)
(B) ABHYANTARATAPA
Inward Penance
Kohadi-sagabbhava-kkhayapahudi-bhavanae niggahanam.
Payacchittam bhanidam, niyagunacimta ya nicchayado. (458)
Thinking of controlling anger and other thoughts, passification of intense thoughts, contemplation of
one’s own virtues, these constitute atonement from the real view-point. (458)
Namtanamtabhavena, samajjia-suhaasuhakammasamdoho.
Tavacaranena vinassadi, payacchittam tavam tamha. (459)
The multitude of auspicious and in-auspicious Karmas accumulated during endless transmigration
can be destroyed by practice of penances; so, the atonement (expiation) is called the penance. (459)
Addhanatenasavada-rayanadirodhanasive ome.
Vejjavaccam uttam samgahasarakkhanovedam. (474)
Offering protection to and taking care of a monk who becomes fatigued on his way, is threatened by
a thief, a wild animal, a king or obstructed by river or gets afflicted by a contagious disease or famine,
is service to a monk (vaiyavrttya). (474)
29. Dhyanasutra
PRECEPTS ON MEDITATION
30. Anupreksasutra
PRECEPTS ON REFLECTION
Jhanovarame’vi muni, niccamaniccaibhavanaparamo.
Hoi subhaviyacitto, dhammajjhanena jo puvvim. (505)
Even when ordinary meditation is over then before undertaking the meditation called ‘dharma-dhyana’,
a monk ought to constantly make his mind permeated with deep reflection pertaining to things tran-
sient etc. (505)
Addhuvamasaranamegattamannattasamasaraloyamasuittam.
Asavasamvaranijjara, dhammam bodhim ca cimtijja. (506)
(A monk) should reflect upon transitoriness, helplessness, loneliness, distinctness (of body and soul),
mundane existence, the terrestrial world, impurity, influx of Karmas, stoppage of Karmic influx,
release from Karmas, religion and enlightenment. (506)
Bahijaramaranamayaro, niramtaruppattiniranikurumbo.
Parinamadarunaduho, aho duramto bhavasamuddo. (513)
Oh, this ocean of mundane existence is difficult to cross over; there are many crocodiles in the form
of disease, old-age and death; there is great mass of water in the form of constant births and deaths,
the result of all these are terrible misery. (513)
Rayanattaya-samjutto, jivo vi havei uttamam tittham.
Samsaram tarai jado, rayanattaya-divva-navae. (514)
A soul endowed with the Three Jewels constitutes an excellent ford. One can cross the ocean of
transmigratory cycle with the aid of the divine boat of Three Jewles. (514)
31. Lesyasutra
PRECEPT ON SOUL-COLOURING (LESYAS)
Sammattarayanapavvaya-siharado micchabhavasamabhimuho.
Nisiyasammatto so, sasananamo muneyavvo. (550)
The soul falls down from the peak of the mountain of right faith, with his face towards the plain of
wrong faith, and has his right-faith destroyed - this stage of soul is called sasvadana, i.e., having taste
of right faith. (550)
Nissesakhinamoho, phalihamalabhayanudaya-samacitto.
Khinakasao bhannai, niggamtho viyaraehim. (561)
The monk whose all delusive karmas are annihilated and whose mind is (clean) like the water placed
in a crystal-made vessel is designated ksinamoha and destroys passions by the worthy soul, free
from all attachment. (561)
Kevalananadivayara-kiranakalavappanasiannanao.
Navakevalaladdhuggama-paviyaparamappavvavaeso.
Asahayananadamsana-sahio vi hu kevali hu joena.
Jutto tti sajoijino, anainihanarise vutto. (562 & 563)
It is stated in the enternal holy scriptures that a monk who has destroyed the darkness of his igno-
rance by an assemblage of the rays of the sun of Omniscience, has obtained knowledge of the
supreme soul on account of having acquired nine super ordinary and is equipped with deternimate
and indeterminate types of cognition requiring no help of external instruments, i.e., senses is called
sayogi-kevalin. Though he is a Kevalin (Omniscient) yet undertakes mental, vocal and bodily activi-
ties. (562 & 563)
33. Samlekhanasutra
PRECEPTS ON PASSIONLESS DEATHS
Uvaogalakkhanamanai-nihanamatthamtaram sarirao.
Jivamaruvim karim, bhoyam ca sayassa kammassa. (592)
A soul is characterised by consciousness; is enternal, immortal, different from the body (in which it is
embodied), formless, an agnet, and the door and enjoyer of his own Karmas (i.e., fruits of his
actions). (592)
Avvabahamanimdiya-manovamam punnapavanimmukkam.
Punaragamanavirahiyam, niccam acalam analambam. (623)
The state of emancipation is free from all obstacles and sense-organs, unique, devoid of merit and
demerit, devoid of rebirth, eternal, immobile and independent. (623)
35. Dravysutra
PRECEPTS ON THE SUBSTANCE
Pasarasagamdhavanna-vvadiritto agurulahugasamjutto.
Vattanalakkhanakaliyam, kalasaruvam imam hodi. (637)
The substance time is devoid of attributes like touch, tast, smell and colour and properties like
heaviness and lightness. It is characterized by mutation. (636)
Pudhavijalateyavau-vanapphadi vivihathavareimdi.
Bigatigacadupamcakkha, tasajiva homti samkhadi. (650)
The earth, the water, the fire, the air and the plants are various kinds of immobile beings with one
sense organ. The mobile beings like conches etc. are possessed of two, three, four and five sense-
organs. (650)
36. Srstisutra
PRECEPTS ON UNIVERSE
37. Anekantasutra
THE PRECEPTS ON NON-ABSOLUTISM
Piu-putta-nattu-bhavvaya-bhaunam egapurisasambandho.
Na ya so egassa piya, tti sesayanam piya hoi. (670)
One and the same person assumes the relationship of father, son, grandson, nephew and brother, but
he is the father of one whose he is and not of the rest (so is the case with all the things). (670)
Samsayavimoha-vibbhaya-vivajjiyam appaparasaruvassa.
Gahanam sammam nanam, sayaramaneyabheyam tu. (674)
Such a grasping of the nature of itself and that of other things, as is free from doubt, mistake and
uncertainty is called the right cognition; it is of a determinate form and is of various types. (674)
39. Nayasutra
PRECEPTS ON VIEW-POINT
Titthayaravayanasamgaha-visesapatthara-mulavagarani.
Davvatthio ya pajjavanao, ya sesa viyappa sim. (693)
The entire body of the teachings of Tirthankara taken in its entirely and taken in its particular details
is to be explained with the help of two basic standpoints (nayas)-viz that substantial point of view
(dravyarthikanaya) and that modificational point of view (paryayarthikanaya). The rest of them are
the offshoots of these two. (693)
41. Samanvayasutra
PRECEPTS ON RECONCILIATION
42. Niksepasutra
PRECEPTS OF INSTALLATION
43. Samapana
CONCLUSION
44. Virastavana
HYMN TO MAHAVIRA