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Chapter 182
Kayamargarana/257
A jiva is a living being. One should also refer to chapter 11 of Siddhanta Sara Deepika on this topic.
Question: Which of these four categories are sentient and which are insentient?
Answer: The first two categories are insentient, non-living. The remaining two, 'Kayik' (having a body) and 'Vigraha-Gati' (having a body and movement) are sentient.
Question: What is the difference between the two sentient categories?
Answer: The third category, Kayik jiva, has a body, while the fourth category, jiva, is without a body. This is the difference between these two sentient categories.
Question: What is the difference between the two insentient categories?
Answer: The first insentient category is currently devoid of life and therefore insentient, but it is a potential birthplace for earth-based jivas. Jivas can be born in it, and it will become sentient when a jiva is born. For example, the dust on a road is insentient as long as people are walking on it, but when movement stops at night, earth-based jivas are born, and the insentient dust becomes sentient. However, bricks and other earth-based objects cannot give birth to earth-based jivas. Similarly, the first category, 'Viloditha Jal' (water that has been stirred), 'Dohare Vastra Roopi Yantra Dwara Galit Jal' (water that has been filtered through a double-layered cloth), or water made from hydrogen and oxygen, or water produced from Chandrakanta Mani (a type of gemstone), is currently insentient, but it will become sentient when water-based jivas are born in it over time. However, the second category, 'Jal-Kay' (water-based body), is hot water. Since the birthplace of water-based jivas has been destroyed, water-based jivas cannot be born again in hot water. The first category, 'Agni' (fire) covered with ash, or fire in the form of electricity, or fire produced from Surya Kanta Mani (a type of gemstone), is currently insentient, but when the ash is removed, fire-based jivas will be born in this first category of fire over time, making it sentient. However, the second category, 'Agni-Kay' (fire-based body), where the heat has dissipated, cannot give birth to fire-based jivas in such ash. Thus, the first category becomes sentient, while the second category does not. This is the difference between the two. Because it becomes sentient over time, the first category is also called 'Kinchit Praranshit' (slightly sentient).
1. Tattvarthavritti 2/13 p. 14; Mulachar (Phalatan) p. 121. 2. "Chaturgamaphi Prithivishbadvachyatve'pi Shuddha Pudgal Prithivya, Jiyaparitayakadhivikaayasya cha neha grahan tayor netantvatvena tatkarmaudayasambhavataskritadhivivyapadeshasiddha. Lamjivaadhikaraatprithivikaayatvatvenagrihittvatah prithivikaayikaray vigrahagatyapanasya prithivijiivasya grahan tamoreba prithivishravagnama karmaudayam adravaatprithivinyapadesha ghatanat." (Moovanavot ka Tattvarth Sutra 2/13). 3. "Evam Vilohitham Yatrata Viksiptan Vastradigalitam Jalamapa Uchyate." (Tattvachati 2/13); "Math Jalamy Prasukavavam Kiyakalamiti Vargaayanti Muhurta Galitam Tayam Prasurf Praharavayam. Ugodakam Mahaaranam Tatah Mammucchim Bhadat." (Shrishivakotiyacharyapranita Ratnamala).