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78
Tattvarthasutra
[2.52
There are three genders—masculine, feminine, and neuter. Another name for gender is "veda." These three vedas are of two types each in terms of substance (dravya) and intention (bhava). Dravyaveda refers to the external sign, whereas Bhavaveda refers to specific desire. 1. The sign by which a male is identified is Dravya-Purushaveda, and the desire for the enjoyment with a female is Bhava-Purushaveda. 2. The means of identifying a female is Dravya-Striveda, and the desire for enjoyment with a male is Bhava-Striveda. 3. The one which has some signs of a female and some signs of a male is Dravya-Napusakaveda, and the desire for enjoyment with both female and male is Bhava-Napusakaveda. Dravyaveda is in the form of physical attributes, which is the result of the rise of name-karma. Bhavaveda is a psychological transformation, which is the result of the rise of mohaniya karma. There is a relationship of means and ends or sustenance and sustainer between Dravyaveda and Bhavaveda.
The Nepusakaveda of beings born in hell and those in the state of delusion exists. Devas do not have Nepusakaveda; they have the other two. All others, i.e., the beings born in the womb, humans, and other life forms, have all three vedas.
In the gradation of transformations, the transformation of Purushaveda is the least permanent. The transformation of Striveda is more permanent than that, and the transformation of Napusakaveda is even more permanent than that of Striveda. This can be understood through analogy:
The transformation of Purushaveda is like the fire of grass, which quickly settles down and appears quickly. The transformation of Striveda is like glowing embers, which do not settle down quickly and do not appear quickly. The transformation of Napusakaveda is like a heated brick, which takes a long time to settle down and takes a long time to appear.
In women, the soft aspect is primary, which requires a hard element. In men, the hard aspect is primary, which requires a soft element. But in the neuter, since there is a mixture of both aspects, it requires both elements. 50-51.
Types of lifespan and their masters:
Upapātika, ultimate embodiment, the highest being, and those with innumerable years of life—these are the beings that have a non-revolving lifespan. 52.
Upapātika (hellish and divine), ultimate embodied beings, and those with innumerable years of life are the ones with a non-revolving lifespan.
1. For understanding the mutual relationship between Dravya and Bhavaveda and other related necessities, see the commentary on the Hindi Fourth Karma Granth, p. 53.