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 4 - On archer’s activities
Q. 99. Bhante! Suppose a man picks up a bow, and having picked up (the arrow), he sits in the correct posture to shoot it, and having thus sat and (having placed the arrow on the bow-string), he pulls it till his ear, and having thus pulled the arrow, he shoots it in the sky. The arrow so shot in the sky kills certain prāṇas, bhūtas, jīvas, and sattvas, forces contraction of their bodies, oppresses them, hits them, touches them, tortures them from all directions, exhausts them removes them from one place to another and deprives them of their life. How many activities does the man perform?
A. 99. Gautama! From the time the man picks up the bow,...till he shoots the arrow, he is touched by five activities starting with physical,...till causing slaughter of life. The animals whose bodies have provided fodder for the bow are also touched by five activities starting with the physical. The are of the bow is touched by five activities, its string by five (activities) its sinews by five (activities), the arrow by five (activities), the śara, patra, phala and sinews by five (activities).
Q. 100. Bhante! When the arrow, due to its weight, its heaviness, its weight-and-heaviness, starts falling downward in its natural course, the said arrow, in the course of its downward movement, kills certain prāṇas, bhūtas, jīvas and sattvas,...till deprives them of their life. In this case, how many activities touch the man who shot the arrow?
A. 100. Gautama! When the arrow, due to its weight, etc., starts falling down,...till deprives them of their life, the man who shot it is touched by four activities starting with the physical, and the animals from whose body-parts the bow has been made are also touched by four activities, the arc is touched by four activities, the string by four activities, the sinews by four activities, (but) the śara, patra, phala and sinews are touched by five activities. The animals afflicted by the falling arrow are also touched by five activities.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
(There is no commentary available for this section).