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 - Poisonous beings
Q. 69. Bhante! How many types of poisonous beings are there?
A. 69. Gautama! There are two types of poisonous beings, viz., those by species/nature (箩腻迟颈) and those by 办腻谤尘补.
Q. 70. Bhante! How many types of poisonous beings by species/nature are there?
A. 70. Gautama! Four types, viz., scorpion type, frog type, reptile type and human type.
Q. 71. Bhante! What is the extent of the capacity to poison of the scorpion type?
A. 71. Gautama! The scorpion type is capable of spreading through, and filling up with, its poison a body as large as half the size of the land of 叠丑腻谤补迟补. But this is only a capacity which, in reality, has never been used in the past, nor is it being currently used, nor will it ever be used in future.
Q. 72. Bhante! What is the extent of the capacity to poison of the frog type?
A. 72. Gautama! The frog type is capable of spreading through, and filling up with, its poison a body as large as the land of Bharata. But this is only a capacity which, in reality, has never been used in the past, till in the future. The reptile type is capable of spreading through, and filling up with, its poison a body as large as 闯补尘产耻诲惫墨辫补. But again this is only a capacity which, in reality, has never been used in the past, till in the future. Coming to the human type, he is capable of spreading through, and filling up with, its poison a body as large as the time sphere (where time sense exists, i. e., two isles and a half). But here also this is only a capacity which, in reality, has never been used in the past, till in the future.
Q. 73. Bhante! If there are poisonous beings by 办腻谤尘补, are they the infernal type, the animal type, the human type or the divine type?
A. 73. Gautama! There are the animal, human and divine types, but not the infernal type of poisonous beings by karma.
Q. 74. Bhante! So far as the animal type goes, are they with one organ of sense, till five organs?
A. 74. Gautama! There are no poisonous beings by karma among one, two, three or four-organ animals, but only among five-organ animals.
Q. 7. Bhante! If there are poisonous beings by karma only among the five-organ animals, are they born without mating or from the mother鈥檚 womb?
A. 75. Gautama! Repeat what has been stated in the 笔谤补箩帽腻辫补峁嚹� Sutra [笔谤补箩帽腻辫补苍腻蝉奴迟谤补], Pada 21 on Fluid Body, till there are poisonous beings by karma among the five-organ animals born from the mother鈥檚 womb with a life-span limited and countable in years, and with full attainments but never with a life-span unlimited and uncountable in years, born without mating, and without full attainments.
Q. 76. Bhante! If it be the human type, then, is he born without mating or from the mother鈥檚 womb?
A. 76. Gautama! Not without mating, but from the mother鈥檚 womb, as stated 墨n the 笔谤补箩帽腻辫补峁嚹� Sutra, ibid, till there are poisonous beings of the human type in the zone of spiritual activity (办补谤尘补产丑奴尘颈) who are born from the mother鈥檚 womb with full attainments with a life-span limited and countable in years, but never with a life-span unlimited and uncoutable in years and without full attainments.
Q. 17. Bhante! If there are poisonous beings by karma among the gods, are they to be found among the occupants of the bhavanas, till among the 痴补颈尘腻苍颈办补蝉?
A. 77 Gautama! They are to be found among the Bhavanav膩s墨s, the Vya峁噒aras [Vyantaras?], the 闯测辞迟颈峁补蝉 and the 痴补颈尘腻苍颈办补蝉.
Q. 78. Bhante! If there are poisonous beings among the Bhavanav膩s墨s, are they to be found among 础蝉耻谤补办耻尘腻谤补蝉, till 厂迟补苍颈迟补办耻尘腻谤补蝉?
A. 78. Gautama! They exist among all categories, from 础蝉耻谤补办耻尘腻谤补蝉, till 厂迟补苍颈迟补办耻尘腻谤补蝉.
Q. 79. Bhante! Are these 础蝉耻谤补办耻尘腻谤补蝉 with poison due to karma with full attainments, or without full attainments?
A. 79, Gautama! Not with full attainments, but without full attainments, and like this till 厂迟补苍颈迟补办耻尘腻谤补蝉.
Q. 80. Bhante! If there are poisonous beings among the Vya峁噒aras, are they the 辫颈蝉腻肠补 type, et seq?
A. 80. Gautama! They include all the species of the Vya峁噒aras starting with the 辫颈峁Ｄ乧腻蝉 with poison due to karma but without full attainments; and so also the 闯测辞迟颈峁补蝉, all without full attaiments [attainments?].
Q. 81. Bhante! If there are poisonous beings among the 痴补颈尘腻苍颈办补蝉, are they born within the limit of the kalpas or beyond the kalpas?
A. 81 Gautama! Only within the limit of the kalpas, not beyond.
Q. 82. Bhante! If they are born within the kalpas, do they belong to Saudharmakalpa, till Acyutakalpa?
A. 82. Gautama! They are born in Saudharmakalpa, till 厂补丑补蝉谤腻谤补, but not in 膧苍补迟补, Pr膩nata, and Acyuta.
Q. 83. Bhante! Are the poisonous beings born in Saudharmakalpa endowed with full attainments, or without full attainments?
A. 83. Gautama! Not with full attainments, but without, all through, till 厂补丑补蝉谤腻谤补.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva S奴ri):
Q. 69. The word 腻艣颈惫颈峁 stands for reptiles who have poison in their teeth. Some are poisonous reptiles by birth and others are by karma. The latter is a power derived by developed animals and human beings to do harm to others. Such souls cannot move up beyond the eighth heaven, and they are never developed. According to A. 73, such reptiles by karma may exist among the divine beings but not among the infernal beings, nor among one, two, three or four-organ animals. (A. 74)