Part 1 - Question by monk Nirgranthīputra

In that period, at that time...till the assembly dispersed.

In that period, at that time, Śramaṇa Bhagavān Mahāvīra had a disciple named monk Nāradaputra who was gentle by nature, and so on.

In that period, at that time, Śramaṇa Bhagavān Mahāvīra had another disciple named monk Nirgranthīputra who was gentle by nature, and so on.

Once monk Nirgranthīputra came to monk Nāradaputra, and having come to him, he said as follows:

Q. 143. Ārya! Do you think that all the pudgalas (matter) are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, or anardha, amadhya and apradeśa?

So said monk Nāradaputra to monk Nirgranthīputra:

A. 143. In my view, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa.

On this, monk Nirgranthīputra said as follows to monk Nāradaputra:

Q. 144. Ārya! If, in your opinion, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa, then, Ārya, as substance, are they sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa? As place, are they sārdha, and so on. And are they so as time and as phenomena?

Thereon, monk Nāradaputra said as follows to monk Nirgranthīputra:

A. 144. In my opinion, as substance, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa. And so are they as place, as time and as phenomena,

Then monk Nirgranthīputra said as follows to monk Nāradaputra:

Ārya! If, as substance, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa, then, in your view, molecules of matter, too, should be sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa.

Ārya! If, as place, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, then, matter existing on apradeśa of the space should also be sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa. Ārya! If, as time, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, then matter existing on a pradeśa of time should also be sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa.

Ārya! If, as phenomena, all pudgalas are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, then, matter which is one-time black should be sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa. If, however, in your opinion, they are not so, then, your assertion that all puāgalas as substance, as place, as time and as phenomena, are sārdha, samadhya and sapradeśa, and are not anardha, amadhya and apradeśa will be wrong.

Whereon monk Nāradaputra said as follows to monk Nirgranthīputra:

Oh beloved of the gods! I know not this meaning, nor see this. If this causes not pain unto thee, oh beloved of the gods, to give me the meaning of this, then, from thee, who are the beloved of the gods, I would like to hear and know this.

Whereon monk Nirgranthīputra said as follows to monk Nāradaputra:

In my view, as substance, all puāgalas are with pradeśas as also without pradeśas. They are infinite. As place, as time, as phenomena, too, they are like that. When, as substance, puāgalas are without pradeśas, then, as place, too, they are, as a rule, without pradeśas. As time, they are sometimes with pradeśas, and sometimes without pradeśas. As phenomena, also, they are sometimes with pradeśas and sometimes without pradeśas. When, as place, pudgalas are without pradeśas, as substance, they are sometimes with pradeśas and sometimes without pradeśas. When, as time, pudgalas are without pradeśas, as substance, as place, and as phenomena, they are sometimes sapradeśa and sometimes apradeśa. When as phenomena, pudgalas are without pradeśas, as substance, as place, and as time, they are sometimes sapradeśa and sometimes apradeśa. (Thus) they are as place, as they are as time and as phenomena. When pudgalas are, as substance, with pradeśas, as place, they are sometimes with pradeśas and sometimes without pradeśas; and like this, they are as time and as phenomena. When pudgalas are, as place, with pradeśas, as substance, too, they are, as a rule, with pradeśas, and the same of these as time and as phenomena. As with pudgalas as substance, so (with these) as time, and as phenomena.

Q. 145. Bhante! From the standpoint of substance, of place, of time, and of phenomena, as between pudgalas ‘with pradeśas and those without pradeśas, which ones are more...till especially more?

A. 145. Nāradaputra! As phenomena, pudgalas without pradeśas are the smallest (in number). As time, pudgalas without pradeśas are innumerable times more. As substance, pudgalas without pradeśas are innumerable times further more. As place, pudgalas without pradeśas are innumerable times still more.

Coming next to pudgalas with pradeśas, they are, as place, innumerable times more than the last item. As substance, pudgalas with pradeśas are innumerable times further more. As time, pudgalas with pradeśas are innumerable times still more. And as phenomena, pudgalas with pradeśas are especially more (i. e., most innumerable)³⁴.

Thereon, monk Nāradaputra paid his homage and obeisance to monk Nirgranthīputra. Having paid his homage and obeisance, he begged again and again to be forgiven for his confusion. Having thus begged to be forgiven, he lived on enriching his soul by restraint and penance.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

34. The following is an imaginary case regarding the distribution of pudgalas with and without pradeśas. It may give an idea regarding their proportions:

pudgalas as	phenomena	time	substance	space
Without pradeśas	1,000	2,000	5,000	10,000
With pradeśas	99,000	98,000	90,000	90,000