Contribution of Jainas to Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature

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

Page 90

Lokatattvanirnaya by Haribhadrasuri
the path of birth, old age and death ? (127)
If he (īśvara) has created this Universe, why does he again destroy it ? If it were (ultimately) to be destroyed, why did he create the Universe ? (128)
Again, what is his own benefit in this destruction or creation or in endowing all existences with sorrow caused by birth etc. ? (129)
Just as a potter shapes a pot etc. into existence and then again and again breaks it, so does the creator (of this Universe). He is merciless indeed ! (130)
Which Sūri aiming at bliss will take recourse to the feet of that Iśvara, who is responsible for all sorrows of birth etc. (of beings) in this world, who is an enemy without any (rhyme or) reason, who is extremely sinful ? (131)
Some others might state that "no bondage (fault) applies to him when he destroys the world created by him. (In this case I say...) Will there be no fault in a hot-tempered father if he slaughters his own son ?" (132)
If, of old, the Universes sprang from the body of the creator (i.e. īśvara), why does he not, in the same manner, create (a new) universe from his body ? (133)
"Just as, at present, the beings take birth in various, it was so ad infinitum" so say the Siddhas who know the (secret of) the existence of the Universe and know its process. (134)
Thinking on these lines, (these views) on the typical creation should be discreed as mutually contradictory, like the thoughts of Hari and Hara and which have no logical basis. (135)
(Therefore) the creator of the Universe, whether he is free or bound, having a form or is formless, whether he creates good or bad, he does not behave to be the agent from all points of view. (136)
If one is free, he does not create the world, one free from all attachment is not bound by Karma; but one associated with attachment etc. is definitely bound by his own Karma. (137)
(Great personalities), who have established their authenticity by their virtues of knowledge, Caritra etc., who are eternal and benefactors (*), who are absolutely bereft of body, senses and Karma, are so many in the realm of