Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the successive extension of continents and oceans which is verse 3.8 of the English translation of the Tattvartha Sutra which represents the essentials of Jainism and Jain dharma and deals with the basics on Karma, Cosmology, Ethics, Celestial beings and Liberation. The Tattvarthasutra is authorative among both Digambara and Shvetambara. This is verse 8 of the chapter The Lower World and the Middle World and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 3.8 - The successive extension of continents and oceans
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 3.8:
द्विढिविष्कम्भाः पूर्वपूर्वपरिक्षेपिणो वलयाकृतयः ॥ ३.८ ॥
dviḍhiviṣkambhāḥ pūrvapūrvaparikṣepiṇo valayākṛtayaḥ || 3.8 ||
Each continent or ocean is of double the extension of the preceding ocean or continent. These are circular in shape; each encircles the immediately preceding one. (8)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: प्रत्येक द्वीप-समुद्र दूने-दूने विस्तार वाले और पहिले-पहिले के द्वीप-समुद्रों को घेरे हुए चूड़ी के आकार वाले हैं।
Anvayartha: pratyeka dvipa-samudra dune-dune vistara vale aura pahile-pahile ke dvipa-samudrom ko ghere hue cudi ke akara vale haim |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
Repetition of the word ‘dviḥ’–‘dviḥdviḥ’–is intended to indicate successive action; that is, each is double the extension of the previous one. The extension of the first ocean Lavaṇoda is double that of the first continent Jambūdvīpa. The extension of the second continent Dhātakikhaṇda is double that of the first ocean Lavaṇoda, and so on. It is mentioned that one surrounds the other to show that these are not situated as villages and towns. The phrase ‘circular in shape’ is intended to exclude shapes like the rectangle or the square.