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Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti)

by K. C. Lalwani | 1973 | 185,989 words

The English translation of the Bhagavati-sutra which is the fifth Jaina Agama (canonical literature). It is a large encyclopedic work in the form of a dialogue where Mahavira replies to various question. The present form of the Sutra dates to the fifth century A.D. Abhayadeva Suri wrote a vritti (commentary) on the Bhagavati in A.D. 1071. In his J...

Part 1 - Question by monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹

In that period, at that time...till the assembly dispersed.

In that period, at that time, Åš°ù²¹³¾²¹á¹‡a µþ³ó²¹²µ²¹±¹Äå²Ô ²Ñ²¹³óÄ屹ī°ù²¹ had a disciple named monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ who was gentle by nature, and so on.

In that period, at that time, Åš°ù²¹³¾²¹á¹‡a µþ³ó²¹²µ²¹±¹Äå²Ô ²Ñ²¹³óÄ屹ī°ù²¹ had another disciple named monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ who was gentle by nature, and so on.

Once monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ came to monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹, and having come to him, he said as follows:

Q. 143. Ä€°ù²â²¹! Do you think that all the pudgalas (matter) are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, or anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹?

So said monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ to monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹:

A. 143. In my view, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹.

On this, monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ said as follows to monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹:

Q. 144. Ä€°ù²â²¹! If, in your opinion, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, then, Ä€°ù²â²¹, as substance, are they ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹? As place, are they ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, and so on. And are they so as time and as phenomena?

Thereon, monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ said as follows to monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹:

A. 144. In my opinion, as substance, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹. And so are they as place, as time and as phenomena,

Then monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ said as follows to monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹:

Ä€°ù²â²¹! If, as substance, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, then, in your view, molecules of matter, too, should be ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹.

Ä€°ù²â²¹! If, as place, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, then, matter existing on ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹ of the space should also be ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹. Ä€°ù²â²¹! If, as time, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, then matter existing on a ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹ of time should also be ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹.

Ä€°ù²â²¹! If, as phenomena, all pudgalas are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, then, matter which is one-time black should be ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹. If, however, in your opinion, they are not so, then, your assertion that all ±è³ÜÄå²µ²¹±ô²¹²õ as substance, as place, as time and as phenomena, are ²õÄå°ù»å³ó²¹, samadhya and ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹, and are not anardha, amadhya and ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹ will be wrong.

Whereon monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ said as follows to monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹:

Oh beloved of the gods! I know not this meaning, nor see this. If this causes not pain unto thee, oh beloved of the gods, to give me the meaning of this, then, from thee, who are the beloved of the gods, I would like to hear and know this.

Whereon monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ said as follows to monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹:

In my view, as substance, all ±è³ÜÄå²µ²¹±ô²¹²õ are with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s as also without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s. They are infinite. As place, as time, as phenomena, too, they are like that. When, as substance, ±è³ÜÄå²µ²¹±ô²¹²õ are without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, then, as place, too, they are, as a rule, without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s. As time, they are sometimes with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, and sometimes without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s. As phenomena, also, they are sometimes with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s and sometimes without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s. When, as place, pudgalas are without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, as substance, they are sometimes with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s and sometimes without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s. When, as time, pudgalas are without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, as substance, as place, and as phenomena, they are sometimes ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹ and sometimes ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹. When as phenomena, pudgalas are without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, as substance, as place, and as time, they are sometimes ²õ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹ and sometimes ²¹±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹. (Thus) they are as place, as they are as time and as phenomena. When pudgalas are, as substance, with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, as place, they are sometimes with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s and sometimes without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s; and like this, they are as time and as phenomena. When pudgalas are, as place, with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, as substance, too, they are, as a rule, with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, and the same of these as time and as phenomena. As with pudgalas as substance, so (with these) as time, and as phenomena.

Q. 145. Bhante! From the standpoint of substance, of place, of time, and of phenomena, as between pudgalas ‘w¾±³Ù³ó ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s and those without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, which ones are more...till especially more?

A. 145. ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹! As phenomena, pudgalas without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are the smallest (in number). As time, pudgalas without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are innumerable times more. As substance, pudgalas without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are innumerable times further more. As place, pudgalas without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are innumerable times still more.

Coming next to pudgalas with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s, they are, as place, innumerable times more than the last item. As substance, pudgalas with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are innumerable times further more. As time, pudgalas with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are innumerable times still more. And as phenomena, pudgalas with ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s are especially more (i. e., most innumerable)34.

Thereon, monk ±·Äå°ù²¹»å²¹±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹ paid his homage and obeisance to monk ±·¾±°ù²µ°ù²¹²Ô³Ù³óÄ«±è³Ü³Ù°ù²¹. Having paid his homage and obeisance, he begged again and again to be forgiven for his confusion. Having thus begged to be forgiven, he lived on enriching his soul by restraint and penance.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

34. The following is an imaginary case regarding the distribution of pudgalas with and without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s. It may give an idea regarding their proportions:

pudgalas as phenomena time substance space
Without ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s 1,000 2,000 5,000 10,000
With ±è°ù²¹»å±ðÅ›²¹s 99,000 98,000 90,000 90,000
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