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Biology in Jaina Treatise on Reals
This text contains 357 aphorisms in D-version and 344 in the S-version spread over ten chapters as shown below with summarised contents:
Chapter
Major contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
No. Of Aphorisms
Jain Education International
D-version
33
53
39
122
42
42
27
39
26
47
S-version
35
122
52
18
53
44
26
34
26
49
Right faith and knowledge, methods of objective studies and acquiring knowledge, standpoints, organs of valid cognitions. Living in general, Biology, classification, transmigration, anatomy,birth, bodies, physiology. physics, sexes, death.
Hellish, human and animal world, geography, geology, mythology.
Celestial world, astrology, mythology.
World of non-living, physics, chemistry, biology.
Ethics, influx of karmas,
9
7
The numerical difference in the aphorisms of the two versions is due to the fact that there are many additions, deletions and conjunctions in different places. Besides, there are many aphorisms which have different forms of renderings in part. P. C. Shastri has referred 59 such noticeable variations in the two versions representing about 17% of the total aphorisms.
The question of original version of the text has been discussed by many scholars opining in their schismic favour. If it is agreed that the text was composed sufficiently prior to schismic origin, none of the two current versions should be taken as original as they seem to be heavily tinged with versional preferences. That is why, there is difference upto 17% as above in the two
psychology, mind-matter effect. Auspicious karmic influx, conduct of laity, right conduct. Theory of Karma and karmic bondage (psychology and ethics). Karmic stoppage and shredding, asceticism, meditation, ethics. Liberation.
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