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 3 - On relative activities
Q. 220. Bhante! Relative to the gross body of another, how many activities does a five-organ being perform?
A. 220. Gautama! Sometimes, three, sometimes four and sometimes five, and sometimes even no activity.
Q. 221. Bhante! Relative to the gross body of another, how many activities does an infernal being perform?
A. 221. Gautama! Sometimes three, sometimes four and sometimes five.
Q. 222. Bhante! Relative to the gross body of another, how many activities does an Asurakumāra perform?
A. 222. As aforesaid, till the Vaimānikas. Human beings are like five-organ beings.
Q. 223. Bhante! Retative to the gross bodies of others, how many activities does a five-organ being perform?
A. 223. Gautama! Sometimes three, till sometimes even no activity.
Q. 224. Bhante! Relative to the gross bodies of others, how many activities does an infernal being perform?
A. 224. The same as in the first case above, (Q / A 221), till the Vaimānikas, except human beings who are like five-organ beings.
Q. 225. Bhante! Relative to the gross body of one, how many activities do many a five-organ being perform?
A. 225. Gautama! Sometimes three, sometimes four and sometimes five, and sometimes even no activity.
Q. 226. Bhante! Relative to the gross body of one, how many activities do many an infernal being perform?
A. 226. Gautama! As aforesaid, (Q / A 221), till the Vaimānikas, except human beings who are like five-organ beings.
Q. 227. Bhante! Relative to the gross body of other living beings, how many activities do many a five-organ being perform?
A. 227. Gautama! Sometimes three, sometimes four and sometimes five, and sometimes no activity.
Q. 228. Bhante! Relative to the gross bodies of other living beings, how many activities do many an infernal being perform?
A. 228. Gautama! Sometimes three, sometimes four and sometimes five. And like this, till the Vaimānikas. Human beings are like five-organ beings.
Q. 229. Bhante! Relative to the fluid body of a living being, how many activities does a five-organ being perform?
A. 229. Gautama! Sometimes three and sometimes four, and sometimes no activity.
Q. 230. Bhante! Relative to the fluid body of a living being, how many activities does an infernal being perform?
A. 230. Gautama! Sometimes three and sometimes four. And like this, till the Vaimānikas. Human beings are like five-organ beings. The same four statements as stated above for the gross body will also apply to the fluid body, except the fifth activity (which is not to be stated). The rest as aforesaid.
What has been said of the fluid body does hold of the caloric, fiery and kārman bodies, four statements for each.
Q. 231. Bhante! Relative to the kārman body of many, how many activities do the Vaimānikas perform?
A. 231. Gautama! Sometimes three and sometimes four. (To be stated upto this.)
Bhante! So they are. You are right.
Chapter Six ends.
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):
Q. 220. The three activities referred to are physical, instrumental and malicious which usually go together. The other two, torture and slaughter, may or may not be there.
Hence rarely a living being has one or two activities, but invariably three. Cf. Prajñāpaṇā Sūtra:
jasse ṇaṃ jīvassa kāiyā kiriyā kajjai tassa ahigaraṇīyā kiriyā ṇithamā kajjai jassa ahigaraṇiyā kiriyā kajjai tassa vi kāiyā kiriyā ṇiyamā kajjai |