________________
153
Bhagavati Sūtra Bk. 2 Ch. 1
many
other
Nirukta (Etymology ), Jyotisa (Astronomy ), and profound texts produced by the Brahminical scholarship. Besides, he was very profound in the Niti-Sastra of the Parivrājaka order.
तत्थ णं सावत्थीए नयरीए पिंगलए णामं नियंठे वेसालियसावए परिवसर ! तए गं से पिंगलए णामं नियंठे वेसालियसावए अन्नया कयाइं जेणेव खंदए कच्चायणसगोत्ते तेणेव उवागच्छइ । उवागच्छित्ता खंदगं कच्चायणस्सगोत्तं इणसक्खेवं पुच्छे -मागहा ! किं सअंते लोए अणते लोए ? सअंते जीवे अणते जीवे ? अंता सिद्धी अता सिद्धी ? सअंते सिद्धे केण वा मरणं मरमाणे जीवे वढति वा हायति वा ? माणे एवं ।
अनंते सिद्धे ? tara ताव आयखाहि । दुच्च
Vaiśālika-śrāvaka
In the city of Srāvasti, there lived a (one who was profoundly devoted to, and interested in, the words of Śramaņa Bhagavan Mahāvira), named Pingala. This śrävaka once came to Skandaka of the Katyāyana line, to him, and having he asked with great inquisitiveness as follows :
come
him
- Oh Magadha (one born in Magadha ) ! Are the spheres10. with limit or without limit ? Are the souls with limit or without limit ? Is the abode of the perfected beings with limit or without limit ? Are the perfected beings with limit or without limit ? By what death does a being enlongen his stay in (various) existences, and by what death does he cut short that stay. It behoves thee to explain them.
Thus he submitted.
तए णं से खंदए कच्चायणसगोत्ते पिंगलएणं नियंठेणं वेसालियसावएणं इणमक्खेवं पुच्छिए समाणे संकिए कंखिए वितिगिच्छिए भेदसमावन्ने कलुससमावन्ने णो संचाएइ पिंगलयस्स नियंठस्स वेसालियसावयस्स किंचि वि पमोक्खमक्खाइउं तुसिणीए संचिट्ठइ । तए णं से पिंगलए नियंठे वेसाली सावए खंदयं कच्चायणसगोत्तं दोच्चं पि तन्वं पि इणमक्खेवं पुच्छे -मागहा ! किं सअंते लोए जाव... केण वा मरणेणं मरमाणे जीवे वड्ढइ वा हायइ वा ?
