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 - On cells in the hells
Q. 164. Bhante! How many have been stated to be the hells?
A. 164. Gautama! Hells have been stated to be seven. They are: Ratnaprabha...till Mahā-tamaḥprabhā.
Q. 165. Bhante! In the hell called Ratnaprabhā, how many have been stated to be the cells for the infernal beings?
A. 165. Gautama! (They have been) stated to be 30,00,000.
Couplet:
Hundred-thousand thirty, then twenty-five,
Next fifteen and ten,
Three hundred-thousand in the fifth,
Then one hundred-thousand minus five,
And at the seventh only five
Are total cells for the infernals.
Q. 166. Bhante! How many hundred-thousand have been stated to be the cells of the Asurakumāras108?
A. 166. They are: (break-ups provided).
(figures in hundred-thousand)
| Total | Break-up between | ||
| north | south | ||
| Asurakumāras | 64 | 30 | 34 |
| Nāgakumāras | 84 | 40 | 44 |
| Suvarṇakumāras | 72 | 34 | 38 |
| Vāyukumāras | 96 | 46 | 50 |
| Dvīpakumāras | 76 | 36 | 40 |
| Dikkumāras | 76 | 36 | 40 |
| Udadhikumāras | 76 | 36 | 40 |
| Vidyutkumāras | 76 | 36 | 40 |
| Agnikumāras | 76 | 36 | 40 |
| Stanitakumāras | 76 | 36 | 40 |
Q. 167. Bhante! How many have been stated to be the cells of the earth-bodies?
A. 167. Gautama! Countless hundreds of thousands have been stated to be the cells of the earth-bodies...till countless have been stated- to be the abodes called vimanās of the astronomical bodies.
Q. 168. Bhante! How many have been stated to be the abodes in Saudharma-kalpa?
A. 168. Gautama! (They are) stated to be 32,00,000. And then:
Saudharma—32,00,000
Aiśāna—28,00,000
Sānatkumāra—12,00,000
Māhendra—8,00,000
Brahmaloka—4,00,000
Lāntaka—50,000
Mahāsukra—40,000
Sahasrāra—6,000
Ānata / Prāṇata—400
Āraṇa / Acyuta—300
Thus the last four have a total of 700 vimānas. (Above these,) the neck-like (Graiveyaka) trio (implying three compartments) have (in all) 111, 107 and 100 vimānas. (Above these) are 5 Anuttara vimānas, the last of the celestial abodes109.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
108. The Asurakumāras and others in the list are called ‘Bhavanavāsis’ and their abodes are called the ‘bhavanas’.
109. ‘Vimānas’ are the abodes of the Vaimānika gods. They are all in the upper spheres. (Vide note 71.) The total of all the vimānas is 84,97,023.