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 2 - Soul and instruments
Q. 5. Bhante! How many have been stated to be the types of instruments?
A. 5. Gautama! Instruments have been stated to be of four types, which are mind-instrument, word-instrument, body-instrument and karma-instrument.
Q. 6. Bhante! How many instruments are the infernal beings stated to possess?
A. 6. Gautama! Four, which are stated to be mind-instrument, word-instrument, body-instrument and karma-instrument. All the five-organ beings are stated to have four types of instruments. One organ beings have two—body-instrument and karma-instrument. Beings with two to four organs have three—word-instrument, body-instrument and karma-instrument.
Q. 7. Bhante! Do the infernal beings have unwholesome experience (²¹²õÄå³ÙÄå-±¹±ð»å±ð²ÔÄ«²â²¹) due to instruments? Or, do they have unwholesome experience due to non-instruments?
A. 7. Gautama! The infernal beings have it due to instruments, not due to non-instruments.
Q. 8. Why do you say so?
A. 8. Gautama! The infernal beings are stated to have four instruments, which are, mind-instrument, word-instrument, body-instrument and karma-instrument. As these four are inauspicious, so the infernal beings experience it due to instruments, and not due to non-instruments. It is for this so.
Q. 9. Bhante! Do the ´¡²õ³Ü°ù²¹°ì³Ü³¾Äå°ù²¹²õ have wholesome (²õÄå³ÙÄå-±¹±ð»å²¹²ÔÄ«²â²¹) (experience) due to instruments or to noninstruments?
A. 9. Gautama! (They have it) due to instruments, not to non-instruments.
Q. 10. Why is it so?
A. 10. Gautama! The ´¡²õ³Ü°ù²¹°ì³Ü³¾Äå°ù²¹²õ are stated to have four instruments, which are, mind-instrument, word-instrument, body-instrument and karma-instrumeṇt. As these four instruments are auspicious, so the ´¡²õ³Ü°ù²¹°ì³Ü³¾Äå°ù²¹²õ have wholesome experience due to instruments, not due to non-instruments. And like this,...till the ³§³Ù²¹²Ô¾±³Ù²¹°ì³Ü³¾Äå°ù²¹²õ.
Q. 11. And what about the earth-bodies?
A. 11. (In their case), difference is that their instruments, being both auspicious and inauspicious, earth-bodies experience diversely with instruments, (but) not with non-instruments. All beings with gross bodies (experience) diversely with auspicious and inauspicious (instruments). The gods (experience) like those who are with auspicious (instruments).
Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva SÅ«ri):
(There is no commentary available for this section).