Jain Journal 1973 01

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

Page 16

JANUARY, 1973
109
---Gautama ! Let us go to your spiritual Acarya, the great guide on spiritual matters, Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira, and pay unto him homage and obeisance,...till worship him.
-As it pleases thee, oh beloved of the gods ! But let us delay not.
Then with Skandaka of the Katyayana line in his company, Bhagavan Gautama proceeded towards the place where Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira was. In that period, at that time, Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira used to take his meal everyday. His physical frame was noble, portending to welfare, safety, grace and happiness, beautiful even without adornment, bearing standard measures, good marks and high traits, and looking extremely charming. Skandaka of the Katyayana line saw the physical frame of Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira, who was (then)taking his meal everyday, and (whose physical frame) was noble, ... till looking exceedingly.charming, and seeing (him), he was delighte in mind, pleased, overwhelmed with joy in mind, extremely thrilled and with his heart expanded with glee; and (both) reached the place where Sarmana Bhagavan Mahavira was. On reaching (near him), he paid his homage and obeisance to Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira, ... till worshipped him.
Quoth Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira unto Skandaka of the Katyayana line :
--- Indeed, Skandaka, in the city of Sravasti, the Vaisalika Sravaka Pingala had said unto thee as follows : Oh Magadha ! Are the spheres with limit or without limit ? (And so on) ... till you have come to me in a hurry. Skandaka, is that right?
:-Bhante! What you have said is right.
--So Skandaka, as you have in your mind doubt, curiosity, enquiry, inquisitiveness as to whether the spheres are with limit or without, so, on this, oh Skandaka, do I ordain as follows:
The spheres have to be viewed from four angles, viz., substance, place, time and bhāva.
As to substance the spheres are one and with limit.
As to place the spheres are said to be extended over innumerable crores of yojanas in length and breadth, and over innumerable crores of yojanas in circumference, but still with limit.