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 hearing of sound
Q. 45. Bhante! Does a man (monk) liable to lapses hear the sound of instruments (when they are) on play, such as, sound of a conch, sound of a war-horn, sound of a small conch, sound of a kharamukhī, sound of a potā. sound of a pariparitā, sound of a paṇava, sound of a paṭaha, sound of a bhaṃbhā, sound of a horaṃbha, sound of a bugle, sound of a jhattarī, sound of a duṃdubhi, sound of a string instrument, sound of an instrument (like a drum) which goes afar, sound of an instrument which is solid (like that of a gong), sound of an instrument which is musical (like that of a clarionet)?
A. 45. Yes, Gautama, a man (monk) liable to lapses hears the sound of instruments on play, such as, sound of a conch,...till sound of an instrument which is musical.
Q. 46. Bhante! Does he hear those (sounds) which touch (the ear)? Or, does he hear those (sounds) which do not touch?
A. 46. Gautama! (He) hears (those) which touch, (but) does not hear (those) which do not touch,...till hears, as a rule, from six directions.
Q. 47. Bhante! Does a man (monk) liable to lapses hear sounds which are near the organ of hearing, or sounds which are afar from the organ of hearing11?
A. 47. Gautama! (He) hears sounds which are near his organ of hearing, and not those which are afar.
Q. 48. Bhante I A monk liable to lapses hears sounds which are near his organ of hearing, and does not hear sounds which are afar. Likewise, Bhante! does the omniscient hear sounds which are near his organ of hearing, and does not hear those that are afar?
A. 48. Gautama! The omniscient knows and sees (hears) sounds which are near his organ of hearing as well as sounds which are afar, sounds which are very near, and sounds which are very far, and like this all types of sounds.
Q. 49. Bhante! What’s the reason for this that the omniscient knows and sees (hears)....till all types of sounds?
A. 49. Gautama! The omniscient knows all objects and sees all objects, nomatter whether they are finite or infinite, in the east, in the south, in the west, in the north, above and below. In other words, the omniscient knows and sees all objects, nomatter whether finite or infinite; the omniscient knows all, and sees all; the omniscient knows in all directions, and sees in all directions; the omniscient knows in all periods and in all respects, and he sees in all periods and in all respects. The omniscient has infinite knowledge and infinite vision. The omniscient has no cover on his knowledge, and no cover on his vision. It is for this,...till very far.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
11. There are two types of sounds called āragata and pāragata, the former touching the organ of hearing and hence being audible, and the latter not touching the organ of hearing and hence not being audible. The omniscient, however, knows and hears both the sounds.