Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Verse 156
**Gatimarggana / 217**
Even among infinite numbers, the total number of living beings is infinitely infinite, because in relation to time, the total number of living beings is not diminished by infinite eons of the ascending and descending cycles. This infinitely infinite is of three types: inferior infinitely infinite, superior infinitely infinite, and medium infinitely infinite.
**Doubt:** Which of these three infinitely infinites is the total number of living beings?
**Solution:** The total number of living beings is the medium infinitely infinite, because wherever "infinitely infinite" is mentioned, it refers to the medium infinitely infinite, which is the most excellent in terms of reproduction.
**Doubt:** This medium infinitely infinite is also infinitely infinite in its variations. Which variation is relevant here?
**Solution:** The quantity that arises by going up from the inferior infinitely infinite by an infinite number of square places and down from the superior infinitely infinite by an infinite number of square places is the quantity that is understood by the term "infinitely infinite" here. Alternatively, the quantity that arises by cubing and multiplying the inferior infinitely infinite three times, and then multiplying that quantity by infinity and adding the six substances, is the quantity that is relevant here.
**Doubt:** How do we know that this great quantity, which arises from cubing and multiplying three times, is infinitely less than the total number of living beings?
**Solution:** When we repeatedly square the inferior infinitely infinite, the square place of the total number of living beings arises above the square places below the inferior infinitely infinite, while the square place of the quantity that arises from cubing and multiplying three times arises before that (i.e., it arises above some square places below the inferior infinitely infinite). This shows that the square places of the quantity that arises from cubing and multiplying three times are infinitely less than the square place of the total number of living beings. Therefore, the quantity itself is also infinitely less.
The point is that there is a contradiction in considering a quantity that is finite and can be exhausted as infinite. Such a statement does not lead to the fault of contradiction with the half-pudgala transformation, because the infinite nature of the pudgala transformation is considered as a remedy.
**Doubt:** What is the quantity in which the six substances are added?
**Solution:** The quantity that arises from cubing and multiplying three times should be added to the six infinite quantities: Siddhas, Nigoda-jiva, Vanaspatikayika, Pudgala, Time, and Aloka-akasha.
**[Verse 312 from the Tattvartha Prajnapti]**
"Siddhas, Nigoda-jiva, Vanaspatikayika, Pudgala, Time, and Aloka-akasha, these six are the infinite quantities."
**[Footnotes]**
1. "The number of living beings is infinite, because they are not diminished by time, even with the ascending and descending cycles." [Tattvartha Rahasya, 3.28]
2. "Wherever infinite is mentioned..." [Pravacana Purva, 3, p. 27]
3. [Pravacana Purva, 3, p. 16]