________________
50
THE DESTRUCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
of karmas. The first stage of right belief is not attained, when the duration of karmas is either at the maximum or at the minimum. If so, when is it attained? The fitness for the first stage of right belief is attained, when the soul binds karmas of less than kotikoti sāgaropama duration, and when the existing karmas also, owing to the purification of the soul, are of duration of kotikoti sāgaropama less numerable sāgaropama thousand. Another attainment of favourable time is based on birth. The worthy soul endowed with the five senses and the mind, fully developed and purified, attains the first stage of right faith. The recollection of previous births is also included among the causes. The conduct of subsidence arises on the subsidence of all the deluding karmas. Right belief is mentioned first as it is the basis of right conduct.
The nine characteristics of the soul arising from destruction of karmas are described.
ज्ञानदर्शनदानलाभभोगोपभोगवीर्याणि च
॥ ४॥
Jnanadarsanadanalabhabhogopabhogavīryāņi ca (4)
4. (The nine kinds are) knowledge, perception, gift, gain, enjoyment, re-enjoyment, energy, etc.
Ca is intended to include right belief and conduct. On the total destruction of knowledge-obscuring karmas are manifested perfect knowledge and perfect perception. On the complete destruction of gift-obstructive karmas arises the power of giving security to infinite multitudes of living beings, the gift of fearlessness which is a blessing to them. When the karmas which obstruct gain are completely destroyed, the omniscient does not take food. But infinite particles of extremely pure and subtle matter, which give strength and which are beyond the reach of ordinary human beings, are assimilated in his body every instant. This is the gain derived from destruction of karmas.
As the entire karmas which obstruct enjoyment1 are des1 The objects of enjoyment are of two kinds, things that can be enjoyed only once such as water, food, garlands and so on, and things which can be enjoyed again and again such as house, fields, etc. Bhoga is enjoyment of the former which can be used only once. Upabhoga is re-enjoyment of the latter such as fields, which can be used again and again,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org