Social and Ethical Values in Prakrit Literature: A Comparative Analysis of the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, Daśavaikālika Sūtra, Sutta Nipāta, and Dhammapada

RAVINDRANATH CHIRKUTJI WASE

Social and Ethical Values in Prakrit Literature: A Comparative Analysis of the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, Daśavaikālika Sūtra, Sutta Nipāta, and Dhammapada

Author(s)	Mr. RAVINDRANATH CHIRKUTJI WASE
Country	India
Abstract	Prakrit literature holds an important place in India’s knowledge tradition because it preserved and communicated ethical ideas in a language understood by ordinary people. As the principal medium of the Jain and Buddhist Śramaṇa traditions, it transformed philosophical teachings into practical guidance for everyday life and made moral knowledge accessible to all sections of society. Canonical texts such as the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, Daśavaikālika Sūtra, Sutta Nipāta, and Dhammapada present enduring ideals of non-violence, truthfulness, compassion, self-restraint, equality, and social responsibility. These values influenced personal conduct, strengthened social harmony, and contributed to the development of India’s ethical and cultural traditions. Although these texts have been widely studied within Jain and Buddhist scholarship, comparatively little attention has been given to their shared social and ethical vision through the broader perspective of Prakrit literature as a foundation of Indian knowledge traditions. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the social and ethical teachings preserved in these four canonical texts by employing historical, textual, philological, and comparative methods. It examines how the Jain and Buddhist traditions explain the relationship between individual character, moral discipline, and collective well-being while identifying both their common ethical principles and distinctive philosophical perspectives. The study demonstrates that Prakrit literature functioned not merely as a literary language but also as an effective medium for preserving, transmitting, and popularising ethical knowledge across generations. It concludes that the values embodied in these texts continue to provide meaningful guidance for social harmony, responsible citizenship, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and value-based education. By relating these findings to the conference theme, Lokadhārā Prakrit: Indian Knowledge Tradition and Cultural Heritage, the paper establishes that Prakrit literature remains a vital source for understanding India’s intellectual legacy and continues to inspire ethical reflection, cultural continuity, and inclusive human values in contemporary society.
Keywords	Śramaṇa Tradition; Ahimsa; Compassion; Moral Philosophy; Indian Knowledge Systems.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-18

View / Download PDF File

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

Social and Ethical Values in Prakrit Literature: A Comparative Analysis of the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, Daśavaikālika Sūtra, Sutta Nipāta, and Dhammapada

Share this