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Agam Sutra 39, Cheda Sutra-5, 'Mahanisitha'
Study/Purpose/Sutra Number Sutra - 397
- Among these six persons, consider the one who has attained the state of a Chadmastha Vitaraga (a householder who has attained the state of detachment) as the most superior. He should be known as the one who possesses the qualities of an Uttamottama Purusha (the most superior person), such as being devoid of psychic powers, and being an Upashamaka (one who has subdued passions) and Ksapaka (one who has destroyed karmas) Muni (ascetic). And then, consider the one who is an Apramatta Muni (vigilant ascetic) as the superior one. Thus, the description of these persons is given. Sutra - 398
And then, the one who, being a Mithyadristi (one with wrong belief), practices severe celibacy, abandoning violence, initiation, and possession, is a Mithyadristi, not a Samyagdristi (one with right belief). They do not have the knowledge of the existence of the nine substances (Jiva, etc.). They do not appreciate or praise the ultimate goal of liberation, but they renounce sins like violence, celibacy, etc., and attain celestial maidens in the next life through austerities and celibacy, out of the desire to obtain worldly pleasures. Sutra - 399
The Vimaddhyama Purusha (the mediocre person) is the one who, adopting such an attitude, practices the vows of a Shravaka (lay follower). Sutra - 400
And the Adhama and Adhamaadhama (the inferior and the most inferior) are the ones who, in solitude, engage in the acquisition of karmic status, just as it was said for women. The only special consideration for men is that men tend to develop more attachment towards the upper parts of the female body, such as the breasts and face, compared to the genital area. Thus, the six types of persons are described. Sutra - 401
O Gautama! Some women are Bhavya (worthy) and possess firm right faith. If one contemplates their superiority, they can be considered in the category of the most superior persons. But not all women are like that. Sutra - 402
O Gautama! Similarly, there are women who do not attain the company of a man in the three time periods (past, present, and future). Despite the availability of a male partner, they do not engage in sexual activity even in the thirteenth, fourteenth, or fifteenth time periods. Just as when a fire is ignited in a village, town, or forest filled with firewood and is fanned by a strong wind, the fire becomes highly intense. After a long time, the fire subsides on its own. Similarly, O Gautama! the fire of passion in a woman becomes intense and grows, but in the fourth time period, it becomes calm, just as the flame of a lamp becomes invisible, but if oil is added, it flares up again on its own. Similarly, a woman becomes excited by the sight of a man, his conversation, his attraction, his pride, and his passion, and her fire of passion is rekindled. Sutra - 403
O Gautama! If, at such a time, that woman endures the pain of passion due to fear, shame, the blemish of her family's reputation, faith in religion, and does not engage in improper conduct, then she is blessed, meritorious, worthy of veneration, worshipful, worthy of sight, possessing all auspicious qualities, the repository of all welfare, the most auspicious treasure, the goddess of learning, the pure goddess, the indestructible goddess, the queen of gods, the most pure and superior one, worthy of being addressed as the eternal, auspicious, and liberated state. Sutra - 404
If that woman does not endure the pain and engages in improper conduct, then she is inauspicious, devoid of merit, unworthy of veneration, unworthy of worship, not worth seeing, without any auspicious qualities, the cause of all inauspiciousness and misfortune, devoid of virtue, and deserving of condemnation.