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 8 - Monk Kurudattaputra and other heavens
Q. 14. Bhante.! If Īśāna, the Indra of the Devas, their king, is in possession of a great fortune,...till a great power to transform, then, how great may be the fortune of your disciple, monk Kurudattaputra, who was gentle by nature,...till polite, who helped the advancement of his soul by repeatedly undergoing a three-day fast missing at a time eight meals, who exposed himself on an open ground to the scorching rays of the sun by turning his face sun-ward, and his both arms lifted sky-ward, who lived in the holy order of monks for full six months, and then linking his soul with a prolonged fast for a fortnight missing thirty meals in all, discussing lapses and saying pratikramaṇa, being in meditation, passed away on the completion of his time, and has been born in Īśāna-kalpa, in his own vimāna, as a Sāmānika god? (The rest of the question about Tiṣyaka-deva is to be repeated without any omission about Kurudattaputra also.)
A. 14. (Same as aforesaid), difference being that, he can fill up a space slightly bigger than twice the whole of the isle named Jambu-dvīpa; and like this is to be known regarding his Sāmānika gods, Trāyas-triṃśaka gods, Lokapālas and principal consorts,...till this power to transform is a quality, a mere quality and this power has never, in the past, been given effect to, nor is it given effect to in the present, nor will it ever be given effect to in future.
And likewise about Sanatkumāra and other celestial abodes up, difference about Sanatkumāra being that the Indra of this heaven can fill up space four-times as big as the isle named Jambu-dvīpa and an unlimited number of seas and an unlimited number of isles in central part of the sphere, and his Sāmānika gods, Trāyas-triṃśaka gods, Lokapālas and principal consorts have the power to fill up an unlimited number of seas and an unlimited number of isles. All Lokapālas beyond Sanatkumāra are capable to fill up an unlimited number of seas and an unlimited number of isles. And like this in Māhendra, difference being slightly more than four-times the whole of the isle of Jambu-dvīpa; and so in Brahmaloka, difference being eight times the whole of Jambu-dvīpa; and so in Lāntaka, difference being slightly more than eight times; in Mahāśukra, sixteen times; in Sahasrāra, slightly more than sixteen times; and so in Prāṇata too, difference being thirty-two times; and in Acyuta, difference being slightly more than thirty-two times the whole of the isle named Jambu-dvīpa. The rest as before.
Bhante! So they are. Glory be to the Lord! So saying, third Gautama, monk Vāyubhūti, paid homage and obeisance to the Lord,...till withdrew to his seat10.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
10. The celestial abodes (vimānas) in different heavens and Sāmānika gods therein have been as follows:
| Vimāna | Sāmānikas | |
| Saudharma | 32,00,000 | 84,000 |
| Īśāna | 28,00,000 | 80,000 |
| Sanatkumāra | 12,00,000 | 72,000 |
| Māhendra | 8,00,000 | 70,000 |
| Brahmaloka | 4,00,000 | 60,000 |
| Lāntaka | §0,000 | 50,000 |
| Mahāśukra | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| Sahasrāra | 6,000 | 30,000 |
| Āṇata [Ānata?]-Prāṇata | 400 | 20,000 |
| Araṇa-Acyuta | 300 | 10,000 |