________________
118
(xvi) Vidarśanāt -- lack of sight. One born blind cannot see
anything. (xvii) Vikārāt -- Deterioration; when due to old age, a person's
energies flag, there is non-cognition even of what was
cognised earlier a number of times. (xviii) Akriyātaḥ — lack of activity. If a man does not dig the
ground he cannot see the root of the tree. (xix) Anadhigamät - Non-acquirement. If a man has not
studied the scriptural texts, he will not know their
meaning. (xx) Kálaviprakarsát - separation by time; one does not
perceive past and future things. (xxi) Svabhāva-vipra karşāt — the thing's nature being not
amenable to perception; e. g., one does not perceive
the sky or evil spirits.
Thus in any one of these twenty-one ways, it might not be possible to perceive a thing even though real and existent. In the present context, on account of svabhāva-viprakarsa, i.e. because the soul is incorporeal, it cannot be perceived. The karmic body is subtle like an atom and hence it too cannot be perceived; and so the transmigratory soul accompanied by the karmic body cannot be perceived as it enters the gross body or leaves it. The soul or the karmic body should not, on account of this, be regarded as utterly non-existent, for the existence of these is established by a number of inferences (1682–1683).
On the basis of Vedic testimony also it is easy to realise that the soul is distinct from the body. The Veda enjoins agnihotra, etc. on one who wishes to go to heaven. Now the body is reduced to dust or ashes when a person dies. If the soul is not distinct from the body, there would be no one to enjoy the fruit of agnihotra, etc. in heaven, and the Vedic injunctions would be serving no purpose; they would be proved false. Similarly people believe that one who performs good deeds, acts of charity, etc., goes to heaven. This would hold good only if the soul be distinct from the body. Váyubhūti had not understood the true meaning of the Vedic statements and hence
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
