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THE SACRED BOOKS OF THE JAINAS.
35-38. The atoms of matter are numerable, innumerable and infinite. Verily there are innumerable points of space in "medium of motion,” “medium of rest” and in each individual soul.
The same (innumerable number of spatial units are) in the universe; and in the other, i.e., (non-universe) (there are) infinite (number of spatial units). There is no extensiveness in Time; therefore it has one spatial unit (only).
Commentary.
In Gatha No. 9 six principles were mentioned. Out of those the two, i. e., Soul and Matter, were dealt with in gathas 10 to 29. In Gathas 30-36 the remaining four principles have been explained. They are auxiliary causes to the main functions of Soul and Matter.
Medium of motion, is an essentially auxiliary cause of the motion of Soul and Matter.
Medium of Rest is an essentially auxiliary cause of the static condition of Soul and Matter.
Space is that which gives room to all substances, including Soul and Matter.
Time is the auxiliary cause of bringing about modifications, in all substances, including Soul and Matter.
Out of these six principles, space is the biggest, having infinite dimensions all round. Within space there is the universe which contains all the other five substances, which cannot exist beyond space.
Of the medium of motion and rest, each is a single, immaterial substance pervading through the whole of the universe.
The units of time (each of which is an immaterial and individual substance) are very closely packed up in the universe. They are innumerable in number.
Soul and Matter, being infinite, are found everywhere in the universe, in their various gross or fine forms. In connection with this subject, it is necessary to define and explain what a spatial unit (Pradesha) is.
Spatial unit is that part of space which is occupied by the smallest indivisible particle of matter. It is a unit, generally employed in measuring the dimensions of substances in the universe. If we measure the universe taking a spatial unit as our measure
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