Agam 15 Upang 04 Pragnapana Sutra Part 02

SR No.: 001064
Original Sutra Author: Shyamacharya
Author: Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Amrutlal Bhojak
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay
Publication Year: 1971
Total Pages: 934
Language: Prakrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari, Agam, Canon, Metaphysics, & agam_pragyapana
File Size: 16 MB

Page 370

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atoms are everywhere in Loka. Again, in sū. 994 there occurs a statement to the effect that ordinary beings (chadmastha) are not able to know or to see these subtle atoms. When even some celestial beings are not capable of knowing or perceiving them then what to talk of the ordinary human beings!
Then it takes up 24 classes one by one in each case considering the question as to whether or not it knows and sees those subtle atoms while receiving them as food (sū. 995-998).
Sū. 999 discusses the question as to what a person perceives when he sees the reflection of a thing placed before shining things like a looking-glass, a sword, etc. In reply we are told that he perceives neither the looking-glass etc. nor his own self but the reflection alone. Here the term 'pratibhāga' (palibhaga) is employed in the sense of reflection (pratibimba). The sentence meaning 'whether or not he perceives a looking-glass' occurring in the sūtra has a different reading also. According to Ac. Malayagiri it has the reading yielding the meaning that he may perceive a looking-glass also. The contradiction in the two meanings could. be resolved as follows. Ac. Malayagiri's explanation is from the standpoint of the perceptible nature of the object. From this standpoint he considers the looking-glass also to be perceptible. But if we were to regard as perceptible that object which is actually perceived in the concerned instance then we can definitely say that it is only the reflection borne by the looking-glass that is perceived. Hence when it is said that he does not perceive the looking-glass it is said from the standpoint of the cognitional awareness.
Interesting discussion about the cognition of reflection occurs in Niśitha-Bhasya (gāthà 4318 ff). And even Syädvādaratnākara (p. 858 ff) extensively discusses this problem. Again, Siddhasenagani's commentary on Tattvärthasūtra (v. 24 p. 354) contains this interesting discussion.
A blanket, be it thickly woven or thinly woven, touches the same number of units of space. This information is included in this chapter, it seems, on account of its involving the point of uniformity-of-touch (1000).
Moreover, the information that a post, be it standing or lying down, occupies the same number of units of space seems to be included here on account of its being related to the object of senseorgan (1001).
Similarly, here we find the discussion about the touch of dharmästikaya etc. by the geographical objects like agasathiggala