________________
... [272)...
The number of Pudgala dravyas is 5. Pudgalāstikaya-dravyas
ananta. And this number is ananta times more than the immediately
preceding one.
The total number of all the pradeśas of all 6. Pudgala pradeśas the pudgala dravyas is asaskhyāta times
the more than the immediately preceding one.
The number of these dravyas is ananta
times more than the immediately 7. Addhāsamaya-dyavyas
preceding one. Addhāsamaya has no pradeśas.
The number of these pradeśas is ananta 8. Äkäśastikāya-pradeśas times more than the immediately
preceding one.
Relative Numerical Strength of the Classes of Living Beings
The classes of living beings are listed below according to their progressive numerical strength. Therein the beings of the succeeding class are sometimes slightly more in number (višeşādhika), sometimes samkhyāta times more, sometimes asamkhyāta times more and sometimes ananta times more than those of the immediately preceding one. The present list is based on the Mahadandaka occurring in Pada III (Sūtra 334). This list is there in the third Pada at the end. It attempts to check up the relative numerical strength, arrived at in the third Pada, of the classes (of living beings) formed on the basis of gati, etc. Or, it attempts to arrive at the final relative numerical strength of the classes of living beings after having taken into account all the standpoints. Thus this list is very important. Hence we deem it proper to give it below. Again, the text proper merely suggests the numerical strength whereas the commentator gives and explains the exact numerical strength and attempts to demonstrate its propriety and logical consistency through reasoning.
The facts that emerge from this list are as follows. Even at those early times the Jaina monks (ācāryas) have made an attempt to demonstrate in the above manner the relative numerical strength of the different classes of living beings. This is an important fact. Again, the numerical strength of females-be they human beings, sub-human beings or celestial beings-has been considered to be always exceeding that of the males. In Adholoka (Nether world) the numerical strength of the classes of infernal beings decreases as we go down and down from the first
1. For the detailed exposition refer to Prajñāpanāţikā, folio 163 A ff.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
