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 - Beneath the worlds
Q. 118. Bhante! How many have been stated to be the worlds?
A. 118. Gautama! The worlds have been stated to be eight, which are, Ratnaprabhā,...still the world of the liberated souls.
Q. 119. Bhante! Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, are there houses or shops?
A. 119. Gautama! It is not correct to say so.
Q. 120. Bhante! Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, are there villages,...till halting places?
A. 120 It is not correct to say so.
[rain?][?]
Q. 121. Bhante!, Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, do big clouds accumulate moisture, take form and shower rain?
A. 121. Yes, they do,—all the three; and these are done by devas, asuras and nāgas.
Q. 122. Bhante! Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, are the thunders sounded?
A. 122. Yes, they are sounded by all the three.
Q. 123. Bhante! Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, are there coarse fire-bodies?
A. 123. Gautama! It is not correct to say so. This prohibition applies to all souls of living beings except those with oblique movements.
Q. 124. Bhante! Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, are there the moon, etc....till planetary bodies?
A. 124. It is not correct to say so.
Q. 125. Bhante! Beneath the world named Ratnaprabhā, are there the beams of the moon and the rays of the sun?
A. 125. It is not correct to say so. This is to be repeated for the second world; and the same for the third world, difference in this case being that these are done by devas and by asuras, not by nāgas. So about the fourth world, difference being that these are done by devas alone, not by asuras, nor by nāgas; and thereafter, for the remaining worlds, these are done by devas alone.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
(There is no commentary available for this section).