________________
Bhagavati Sütra Bk. 5 Ch. 9
तप्पभिदं च णं ते पासावच्चिज्जा थेरा भगवंतो समणं भगवं महावीरं सव्वष्णू सव्वदरिसी पञ्चभिजाणंति । तएणं ते थेरा भगवंतो समणं भगवं महावीरं वंदति णमंसंति । वंदित्ता णमंसित्ता एवं वयासी :
229
- इच्छामि णं भंते ! तुब्भं अंतिए चाउज्जामाओ धम्माओ पंच महग्वयाई सपडिक्कमण धम्मं उवसंपज्जित्ता णं विहरितए ।
- अहासुहं देवाणुप्पिया ! मा पडिबंधं ।
तणं ते पासावचिचज्जा थेरा भगवंतो जाव... चरमेहिं उस्सास - णिस्सा सेहिं सिद्धा जाव... सव्वदुक्खप्पहीणा अस्थेगइया देवलोएसु उववण्णा ।
Q. 178. Bhante! In the limitless sphere, have there been an infinite number of nights and days, are there an infinite number of nights and days, and will there be an infinite number of nights and days38 ? And have these (infinite number of nights and days) been lost, are these lost, will these be lost? Or, have there been a limited number of nights and days, are there a limited number of nights and days, and will there be limited number of nights and da? And have these (i. e., nights and days) been lost, are these lost, will these be lost?
A. 178. Aryas! In the limitless sphere, there are an infinite number of days and nights, etc., as stated by you.
Q. 179. Why so, till will these be lost?
A. 179. Aryas! Arhat Pārśva, the most respected of men, ordained the sphere to be eternal, without a beginning and without an end, innumerable (from the standpoint of its constituent pradesas) and encircled (by non-sphere), extended at the base, slender at the centre, and vast at the top of the shape of paryanka at the bottom, of the shape of a mighty vajra (thunder) at the centre and of the shape of an up-turned mrdanga at the surfacc. So it is. The sphere is eternal, without a beginning and without an end, innumerable and encircled, extended at the base, slender at the centre and vast at the top, of the shape of a paryanka at the bottom,
...
