The seven desires of Vasupāla

[Vyom A. Shah]

On this Māgha Śukla Pañcamī, as we commemorate 785 years since the passing of Vastupāla, the esteemed chief minister of Vīradhavala, let us reflect upon the seven heartfelt desires he humbly offered before the Jina

शास्त्राभ्यासो जिनपदनुतिः सङ्गतिः सर्वदाऽऽर्यैः
सद्वृत्तानां गुणगणकथा दोषवादे च मौनम्।
सर्वस्याऽपि प्रियहितवचो भावना चाऽऽत्मतत्त्वे
सम्पद्यन्तां मम भवभवे यावदाप्तोऽपवर्गः॥

[शास्त्र-अभ्यासः। जिन-पद-नुतिः। सङ्गतिः। सर्वदा। आर्यैः। सद्-वृत्तानाम्। गुण-गण-कथा। दोष-वादे। च। मौनम्।

सर्वस्य। अपि। प्रिय-हित-वचः। भावना। च। आत्म-तत्त्वे। सम्पद्यन्ताम्। मम। भव-भवे। यावद्। आप्तः। अपवर्गः]

May the study of sacred scriptures, obeisance at the feet of the Jina, perpetual association with āryas, praise for the virtues of the righteous, silence when hearing of others' faults, words that are kind, uplifting, and beneficial to all, and deep contemplation upon the soul be received in every birth until I am freed from the cycle of birth and death.

---

This verse is from

Text name: Prabandhakoṣa

Author of text: Rājeśekharasūri

Text Description: A collection 24 prabandha-s on lives and exploits of 10 ācāryas, 10 poets/pundits, 7 medieval kings and 3 Jaina laities. Edited by Jinavijayajī. Published as No. 6 in Singhi Jain Series.

Publishers: Singhi Jain Jñānapīṭha (1935)

[Vyom A. Shah]

Read Vastupāla*