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CHAPTER THREE
are reborn twice, 268 but only once in the fifth (Sarvārthasiddha). From Saudharmakalpa to Sarvārtha the gods become stronger in each successive heaven in respect to duration of life, brilliance, power, purity, soul-color, happiness, in the sphere of the senses, and in clairvoyant knowledge. In respect to attachment to worldly objects, and arrogance, (size of) body and marriage, they become weaker and weaker, successively. The gods who have the minimum term of life breathe at the end of seven stokas,284 and eat once in two days. The gods, whose life term is a palyopama, breathe once a day and eat once in several days. The ones whose life is measured by sāgaras breathe at the end of as many half-months as there are sāgaras, and eat at the end of so many thousands of years. The gods usually have pleasant feelings, but if they have unpleasant, it would be only for an antarmuhurta,266 not more than a muhūrta.
Goddesses are born up to 286 Aiśāna, and marriage exists up to Acyuta. Ascetics are born up to the Jyotiskas. Birth of wandering mendicants is up to Brahmaloka, and rebirth of five-sensed animals up to Sahasrāra; of laymen up to Acyuta; of monks who have wrong belief but have observed the practices up to the last Graiveyaka.
Those who knew all the (fourteen) pūrvas are born from Brahmaloka up to Sarvārthasiddha. Monks and laymen of good character are born in Saudharma at least.
Up to Aiśāna, the gods, Bhavanavāsins, etc., have physical marriage. For they have karma which torments them. Possessing strong affections, embracing in love like
268 781. Before attaining mokşa. 204 785. About every 37 seconds.
285 788. A division of time, beginning with 9 samayas and extending to one samaya less than a muhūrta. A samaya is an infinitesimally small period of time. Antarmuhūrta is also defined as beginning with 6 āvalis to make it more definite. An ávali is made up of innumerable samayas. Muni Nyāyavijayaji.
206 789. 'Up to’ is inclusive throughout this description.
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