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 2 - On activities
Q. 264. Bhante! One who earns subsistence from animal slaughter, one who hunts an animal and is deeply attached to it—if such one, with a view to killing soiṇe animal, and thinking that ‘it’s here’ sets a trap at a place covered with trees and encircled by a river, in a tank or a lake, in a place covered with thick grass, at the river’s bend, in a dark place, in a deep forest, in a forest on a mountain, or on a mountain, or a mountainous region, in a (common) forest or forest with varieties of flora, then Bhante, how many activities does he perform?
A. 264. Gautama! Such a man,...till sets a trap,...till a forest with varieties of flora, sometimes performs three activities* sometimes four activities, and sometimes five activities.
Q. 265. Bhante! Why do you say so that he sometimes performs three activities, sometimes four activities and sometimes five activities?
A. 265. Gautama! So long as he holds the net but fastens not the animal and kills it not, he is touched by three activities, viz., physical activities or activities of the body, instrumental activities arising out of the collection of instruments, and activities born out of hatred. So long as he holds the net and fastens the animal but kills it not, he is touched by four activities, viz., physical, instrumental, hatred-born and pain-causing. When he holds the net, fastens the animal and kills it, he is touched by five activities, viz., physical, instrumental, hatred-born, pain-causing and slaughter. Hence, oh Gautama, it is so,...till sometimes five activities.
Q. 266. Bhante! If a being in all places as aforesaid, from a place full of trees and encircled by a river,...till a place covered with wide varieties of flora, collects blades of grass and sets fire to them, how many activities does he perform?
A. 266. Gautama! Sometimes three activities, sometimes four, sometimes five.
Q. 267. Why is it so?
A. 267. Gautama! So long as he collects the blades, three; so long as he collects the blades and throws fire into them but bums not, four; and when he collects the blades, throws fire into them and burns them, touched is he by five activities, from physical onwards. It is for this so, oh Gautama!
Q. 268. Bhante! One who earns subsistence from animal slaughter, hunts animals and is devoted to hunting such one thinking that ‘they are here’, at a place covered with trees and encircled by a river,... till forest with varieties of flora, throws an arrow with a view to killing, how many activities does he perform?
A. 268. Gautama! Sometimes three, sometimes four, sometimes five.
Q. 269. How is it so?
A. 269. Gautama! So long as he throws the arrow, but hits not the animal, nor kills it, (he performs) three activities. When he has thrown the arrow and hit the animal, but not killed it, four activities. But when he has thrown the arrow, hit the animal and killed it, he is touched by five activities. It is for this, oh Gautama, sometimes three, sometimes four, sometimes five.
Q. 270. Bhante! At a place covered with trees, etc., (as aforesaid), someone, with a view to killing, carefully pulls the arrow (affixed on the bow string) till his ear, and another coming from behind, chops his head with a sword in his hand; now the arrow, because of the previous preparation goes out and pierces the animal. Now, Bhante is the man touched by the hatred of the animal or the hatred of the man?
A. 270. Gautama! He who kills the animal is touched by the hatred of the animal, and he who kills the man is touched by the hatred of the man.
Q. 271. Bhante! How is it so,...till touched by the hatred of the man?
A. 271. Gautama! Certain it is that ‘being done’ is ‘done’, ‘aiming’ is ‘aimed’, ‘preparing’ is ‘prepared’, ‘throwing’ is ‘thrown’. Don’t you agree?
—Yes, Bhante, I agree. ‘Being done’ is ‘done’,...till ‘throwing’ is ‘thrown’.
—For this, oh Gautama, he who kills the animal is touched by the hatred of the animal, and he who kills the man is touched by the hatred of the man. And if (the animal) dies within, six months, (the killer) is touched by physical, etc., five activities; but if (it) dies after six months, (the killer) is touched by four activities from physical...till pain-causing155.
Q. 272. Bhante! If a man kills another man by a javeline, or chops off his head with a sword by his own hand, then how many activities does he perform?
A. 272. Gautama! When that man kills another by javelins or chops Ms head off with a sword by his own hand, then he is touched by five activities from physical,...till slaughter, and that instant killer, who is careless of the life of others, is touched by the hatred of the man.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
155. This is so only from the standpoint of vyavahāra naya. But otherwise, since the animal dies of the hurt, nomatter whether within six months, or after it, the killer should be taken to have performed five activities.