Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)

by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626

This page describes the nymphs (devi) living in lotuses which is verse 3.19 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 19 of the chapter The Lower World and the Middle World and includes an extensive commentary.

Verse 3.19 - The nymphs (devī) living in lotuses

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 3.19:

तन्निवासिन्यो देव्यः श्रीह्रीधृतिकीर्तिबुद्धिलक्ष्म्यः पल्योपमस्थितयः ससामानिकपारिषत्काः ॥ ३.१९ ॥

tannivāsinyo devyaḥ śrīhrīdhṛtikīrtibuddhilakṣmyaḥ palyopamasthitayaḥ sasāmānikapāriṣatkāḥ || 3.19 ||

In these lotuses live the nymphs (devī) called Śrī, Hṛī, Dhṛti, Kīrti, Buddhi and Lakṣmī, respectively, whose lifetime is one palyopama each and who live with sāmānika and pariṣad classes of deva. (19)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: एक पल्योपम आयु वाली और सामानिक तथा पारिषद् जाति के देवों सहित श्री, ह्री, धृति, कीर्ति, बुद्धि और लक्ष्मी नाम की देवियाँ क्रम से उन सरोवरों के कमलों पर निवास करती

Anvayartha: eka palyopama ayu vali aura samanika tatha parishad jati ke devom sahita shri, hri, dhriti, kirti, buddhi aura lakshmi nama ki deviyam krama se una sarovarom ke kamalom para nivasa karati

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The names of the nymphs (devī), their lifetime, and their retinue are mentioned next.

In the middle of the pericarps of the lotuses, there are snowwhite mansions, lovelier than the full moon of the autumnal season, one krośa long, half a krośa broad and three-fourth of a krośa high. The nymphs (devī) called Śrī, Hṛī, Dhṛti, Kīrti, Buddhi and Lakṣmī reside in the six lotuses, Padma and others, respectively. Their duration of life is one palyopama. Sāmānika are called so because they are of equal status. Sāmānika and pariṣad are classes of deva. These deva reside in mansions on peripheral lotuses, surrounding the primary lotuses.

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