Agam 05 Ang 05 Study Of Bhagvati Vyakhya Prajnapti Sutra

Author(s): Suzuko Ohira
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 168

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+4 or 0), the maximum number by "0 - 1" (i.e., tryoja=a/4+3=a/4+ (4-1)), and the medium number by the rest falling within these two poles. It seems that the post-canonical authors made use of it. To explain it, the number is divided in the Gommatasara, for instance, into three categories, i.e., sarkhyata, asankhyata and ananta. Sarkhyāta is divided into three types, i.e., minimum, medium and maximum. Asankhyata, is divided into three divisions, i.e., parita, yukta and asarkhyāta, which are again subdivided each into minimum, medium and maximum. Ananta is similarly divided into nine divisions (3x3). Therein each maximum number is expressed by way of one minus the next higher number. For instance, utkrsta-parita-asankhyata is expessed by way of “jaghanyayukta-asankhya ta - 1", and utkrsta-yukta-ananta by way of “jaghanyaananta-ananta-1", which can be translated into "0-1" in terms of the yugma method.
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Then the canonical authors similarly attempted to establish some other ways to express the modes of birth of beings in XX.10.686. They formulated here a set of categories called (1) kati-san cita, (2) akati-sancita, and (3) avaktavyasancita, which respectively mean (1) a group of a definite number of beings being born at the same moment, (2) a group of indefinite number of beings being born at the same moment, and (3) an individual being being born at a time. Accordingly, it is said that A' are akati-sancita, that siddhas are katisancita and avaktavya-sancita, and that the rest of beings share all three formulae.
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Similarly, the satka method (method by six) is introduced in this text for the same purpose. It has five varieties as follows: (1) șat ka-samarjita (a group of six beings taking birth at the same moment), (2) noșatka-s. (likewise a group of less than six beings), (3) șatka-noșatka-s. (likewise a group of beings consisting of 6 + less than 6), (4) șatkaih-s. (likewise a group of beings consisting of 6n; n being the coefficient), and (5) șatkaiḥ-noșatka-s. (likewise a group of beings consisting of 6n +less than 6). It is said that the 4th and 5th are applicable to A', and all are applicable to the rest of beings. This method by six was likely hinted at in association with six jiva nikayas. Similarly, the method by twelve (6X2) and the method by eighty-four (6 x 14) are introduced in the same text.
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These methods occurring in XX.10.686 were probably invented to improve the deficiency of the yugma method, which cannot be applied to the vegetal beings and siddhas whose number is ananta. This text belongs, needless to say, to the fifth canonical stage.
344 From the above examination of the evolution and development of various con
cepts pertaining to the field of jiva, it is evident that their general aspects as