International Journal Of Jaina Studies Vol 01 To 03 2005 To 2007

SR No.: 022773
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Peter Flugel
Publisher: Hindi Granth Karyalay
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 202
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 29

different length. Some consist of one, two or three words, others of extensive sections, nearly all of them composed in prose. As is generally the case with the texts of the canon, the language of the Sthānānga is Ardhamāgadhi.
As it is necessary to get a general idea of the contents of the work and to make clear the peculiar character of the text, I will give a few examples of the sutras from each of the ten chapters. Three points should be taken into consideration:
First, the selected sūtras are not rendered literally, nor do I give a complete account of their contents.
Secondly, I give the numbers of the sūtras in pointed brackets.
Thirdly, if I quote a word from the text, I give the Sanskrit equivalents of the Prakrit words.
Chapter I (eka-sthānam)
Soul <2> harmful activity <3> activity <4> universe <5> in every body there is one soul <ll> creation <14> destruction <15> rebirth <17> reasoning <20> death of beings who are in their last rebirth <27> knowledge, faith, conduct <35> sound, appearance, smell, taste, touch <38> killing of living beings, etc. (i.e. the five great vows of an ascetic); again: anger, etc. (i.e. here we learn of the four passions; kasāya) <39> descending worldperiod (avasarpini), ascending world period (utsarpini) <40> one group (vargană) of infernal beings, one group of Asurakumāra-gods, and so on for all twenty-four categories of beings, including earth-bodied beings, water-bodied beings, etc. <41> one group of atoms occupying one space-point <43> one continent Jambūdvipa <44 > one Mahāvīra in this descending world-period <45> sūtra 47 gives the names of three constellations (naksatra) with one star only.
Chapter II (dvi-sthānam)
All that exists in the world falls under two categories: sentient or non sentient, mobile or immobile, liberated or non liberated, etc. <49> activity is of two kinds: of the soul or of non-soul, inspired by attachment or inspired by aversion, etc. <50> two kinds of renunciation of certain foods (pratyākhyāna): mentally or verbally, for a long period or for a short period <52> faith may be right or wrong <59> earth-bodied beings are minute or gross <63> bodies are on the movement to their next birth or in their present birth <65> an ascetic should be initiated while facing two directions: east and north <66>
20