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 - Food Intake by plants
Q. 50. Bhante! In what period, does plant life have the lowest intake and in what time the highest?
A. 50. Gautama! Plant life has the highest intake of food in pre-rainy and rainy seasons, and then the intake gets reduced from autumm to winter, winter to spring, the lowest being in summer.
Q. 51. Bhante! If, as you say, plant life has the lowest intake of food in summer, then, how is it, as we see, that in summer, quite a large number of plants shoot out fresh leaves, blossom flowers and yield fruits; they are very green and bright, and they look immensely beautiful?
A. 51. Gautama! In summer, many a soul and matter-atoms who are prone to take brith in the tropics are born as plants, are especially born, attain growth and especially do so this is the reason why in summer quite a large number of plants shoot out fresh leaves, till look immensely beautiful.
Q. 52. Bhante! Is the root of a plant touched by the soul in the root, the trunk by the soul in the trunk and the seed by the soul in the seed?
A. 52. Gautama! They are touched as stated.
Q. 53. Bhante! If the root is touched by the soul in the root, til! the seed is touched by the soul In the seed, then how does plant life (as a whole) take food, and digest it?
A. 53. Gautama! The soul in the root which touches the root is in its turn linked with the soul in the earth, from which the former derives food and digests in The soul in the trunk which touches the trunk is In its turn linked with the soul in the root, from which the former derives food and digests it. The soul in the seed which touches the seed is in its turn linked with the soul in the trunk, from which the former derives food and digests it.
Q. 54. Bhante! Potato, raddish, ginger, hirīlī, sirīlī, sissirīlī, kiṭṭikā, chiriyā, chīravidārikā, vajrakanda, sūraṇakanda, kheluḍā, ārdrabhadramothā, pinḍaharidrā [piṇḍaharidrā?], rohinī, huthihu, thtrugā [?], mudgaparṇī, aśvakarṇī, siṃhakarṇī, sihanḍhī, mustinḍhī [mustiṇḍhī?], and many other like these,—do these have an infinite number of souls and do these take diverse forms?
A. 54. Yes, Gautama! These have an infinite number of souls and they take diverse forms.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
(There is no commentary available for this section).