Contribution of Jainas to Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature

Author(s): Vasantkumar Bhatt, Jitendra B Shah, Dinanath Sharma
Publisher: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Smarak Nidhi Ahmedabad

Page 82

Lokatattvanirnaya by Haribhadrasuri
who stands as residing in everything (or, in all). (59).
The Aśvattha tree, that has roots up and branches down is known (by the seers) as eternal (i.e., it is of the nature of Brahman). (52).
The mantras of the Vedas are its leaves. One who knows that is the knower (of the entire universe). (53).
When (this world of the nature of) the steady and moving things come to attain to the nature of an ocean (at the time of the great deluge), i.e., are destroyed, when gods and humans, sanakes and demons are destroyed, when, except for the five great elements, (everything) becomes just like a cave, it is at this time that Lord Visnu, whose form is inconceivable, lies at rest (in the ocean) and performs austerities. (54-55)..
When he was resting there (in the ocean), a lotus sprung from his nave. It was shining like the disc of the youthful sun; it was pleasing to the mind and shone like a golden Karņikāya (56).
From that lotus sprang Lord Brahma together with Danda, Kamandala, sacred thread, and the (upper) garment; he created (some) mothers of the universe. (57).
(These were) Aditi (the mother) of the host of gods; Diti (the mother) of the Asuras, Mana of the human beings; Vinata the mother of all types of birds; Kadru of the *; Sulasā the mother of the (different) families of Nāgas; Surabhi of the quadrupeds, and again llā (the mother of) all other seeds. (Yugma-5859).
The progency of all these has greatly expanded (in this world) as some desire. Some (state) that the (world of living beings) was created without Varnas, (while some state that) it was he (Brahma) who created (this world) with (the four) Varņas etc. (60)
Kāla-Destiny creates the living being, it is Yama that destroys the world of beings; Danda keeps away when (all) are asleep, really Danda cannot be transgressed by anyone. (61). Universal Soul
Just as in this world, a king remains active for the protection of the beings, similarly that soul of the universe, the great God (remains active for the