Agam 15 Upang 04 Pragnapana Sutra Part 02

Author(s): Shyamacharya, Punyavijay, Dalsukh Malvania, Amrutlal Bhojak
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 350

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CHAPTER XI
ON SPOKEN LANGUAGE
This chapter is named Bhāṣāpada because it is devoted to the exposition of spoken language. It deals with the problems of its origination, form, nature, types and speaker. It seems to be a collection of scattered materials pertaining to spoken language. In order to make the speculation on spoken language easily understandable we have reversed the order of sutras in our account. Readers are requested to take note of this fact.
Nature and Origination of Spoken Language
Bhāṣā means that which is spoken.1 The commentator explains this statement by stating that that which gives rise to knowledge in the hearer is bhāṣa2. Thus bhāṣa means spoken language. The first or primary cause of spoken language or speech is a living being (858). That is, in the absence of a living being, its origination does not take place. But by first or primary cause is not meant here the material cause. According to Prajñāpanā, the material cause of spoken language is the material-particles-of-the form-of-spoken-language the defining characteristics of which are colour, odour, flavour and touch (877 [6]). A soul or living being receives those particles only when they are in the condition of immobility (877[1]). It receives those particles through the instrumentality of body and afterwards transforms them into spoken language or speech. In the Jaina terminology it is said that 'it receives them through bodily activity (kāya-yoga)' (858, 859). There has been raised a question as to what form or shape these particles transformed into speech assume when they are expelled out by a living being. And in the answer we are told that they assume the vajra-shape (858). The commentator explains as to why they assume that shape. The shape of Loka (universe) resembles that of a vajra; and the particles transformed into language pervade the whole Loka as soon as they are expelled out. This is the reason why they assume vajra-shape as soon as they are expelled out by a speaker.3 Prajñāpanā itself explicitly states that the material-particles-of-the-form-of-spoken-language once thrown out by a speaker reaches up to the end of Loka (858). They could not proceed further, because beyond the limits of Loka there does not exist 'the medium of motion (Dharma)'.4
1. “bhāsyate iti bhāsā” Prajñāpanātākā, folio 246 B
2. "bhāṣā avabodhabijabhuta " Ibid, folio 256 A
3. Ibid, folio 256 A.
4. Ibid, folio 256 B
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