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Bhagavati Sūtra
palms placed on the forehead; (4) with devotion and profound respect; (5) with mind fully devoted/concentrated. In above manner, one is to listen the master's words.
17. Since the soul is in bondage with karma, the Sutra starts with a consideration thereof, giving in a nut-shell the entire process through which the dormant karma is, in its entirety, put on the move through the spiritual effort of one desirous of liberation, till it is thrown out. The question is considered in all its details and that for all the 24 categories of living beings.
18. 'Bhante' is a form of address inviting the attention of the Acarya, Sanskrit bhadanta, bhavanta, bhayānta, meaning one who helps end transmigration, etc.
19. Nine verbs used in Q. 1 need explanation. The soul is in bondage with karma, and the soul now strives for early liberation. To anticipate the content of Q. 14, karma, which has come up, must of necessity be exhausted through suffering. But karma, which is still dormant and is in occupation of the soul-spaces, may be got rid of through spiritual practices, which is the theme here. Through a conscious effort, the living being brings up dormant karma in order to push it through various stages till exhaustion. Of these, the first four relate to bringing up karma from its dormant state, in very quick succession, to a state where karma-atoms have vacated soul-spaces, and the last five relate to stages leading to total exit of karma-atoms, after they are effectively separated from the soul-spaces.
To be precise, one who is mature enough to attain liberation, and has a striving for it, stands virtually on the last stage from which he can liquidate the earlier ones and earn liberation. He brings up karma from a dormant state and puts it straight to fructification. At once, the outcome is felt, and, just then, karmaatoms are speedily separated from the soul-spaces, which thus stand vacated. By this quick process, he gets rid of karma enshrouding faith, vision, knowledge and power. But, he has yet to get rid of the remaining karma which gives name, lineage,
