Jain Journal 1973 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 13

106
JAIN JOURNAL
Angas, Sașțitantra (of Kapila), Ganita (Mathematics), Sikşā (Phonetics), Ācāra (Conventions), Vyākaraña (Grammar), Chanda (Prosody), Nirukta (Etymology), Jyotişa (Astronomy), and many other profound texts produced by the Brahminical scholarship. Besides, he was very profound in the Niti-śāstra of the Parivrajaka order.
In the city of Sravasti, there lived a Vaisalika Sravaka (one who was profoundly devoted to, and interested in, the words of Sramana Bhagavan Mahavria), named Pingala. This Sravaka once came to Skandaka of the Katyayana line, and having come to him, he asked him with great inquisitiveness as follows :
-Oh Magadha (one born in Magadha)! Are the spheres with limit or without limit? Are the souls with limit or without limit? Is the abode of the perfected beings with limit or without limit? Are the perfected beings with limit or without limit? By what death does a being enlongen his stay in (various) existences, and by what death does he cut short that stay. It behoves thee to explain them.
Being thus asked with great inquisitiveness by the Vaisalika Sravaka Pingala, Skandaka of the Katyayana line was in difficulty (about the answer), was in anxiety (as to how to give a correct answer), was in split (as to what to say), and was in distress because of his ignorance about these). So he did not lighten his load by giving a suitable reply to the Vaisalika Sravaka Pingala, but remained silent. The said Pingala repeated his questions for a second time and then for a third time with the same eagerness :
-Oh Magadha! Are the spheres with limit ... till, by what death does a being enlongen or cut short his stay in (various) existences. It behoves thee to throw light on them.
But on each occasion, being asked by the said Vaisalika Sravaka Pingala, Skandaka of the Katyayana line was in the same) difficulty, doubt, anxiety, fix, split and distress, and could not throw light on them by giving a convincing reply. So he maintained his silence.
In the said city of Sravasti, where three highways meet, ... till people moved out in vast numbers and in groups. The said Skandaka of the Katyayana line heard about the arrival of Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira) from many people, and having heard like that, he had a flash of idea, a desire, a keenness, a resolve (as follows) :