Jain Journal 1973 07

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

Page 21

16
2. Clue from Pravacana Sāra
The following ideas are expressed in Pravacana Sāra, Gāthās 28 to 32.16
JAIN JOURNAL
Soul by nature is the knower and the universal objects are knowables. Similar to the organ of sight 'eye', the omniscient in his exercise of knowledge neither himself penetrate all the universal objects nor the objects of the entire universe enter into him. In other words the omniscient (confined to his own area) remains in his own place and knows all the objects and the objects too remain in their own places.
The above is true under the absolute point of view (Niścaya Naya). Yet under the analytical or practical point of view (Vyavahāra Naya) (in the sense explained next) the omniscient does pervade all the objects and all the objects do reside in him.
In the manner the sapphire stone immersed in milk contained in a vessel, though confined to its own area turns the whole area of milk into blue colour, the pervasion of the soul also is to be understood. (Acarya Amritacandra in his Tikā explains this as the omniscient's wonderful power pervasion.)17
Next it is stated that if the objects do not reside in the omniscient there can be no all-knowing knowledge-omniscience. If you believe in omniscience then all objects should reside in it and it cannot be otherwise. (This hints at the image reflection of all the universal objects in the omniscient that every Acarya speaks of.)
16 Sansk. chaya :
jnani jnanasvabhavo'rtha jneyatmaka hi jnaninah rupaniva caksuso navanyesu vartante 28
na pravisto navisto jnani jneyesu rupamiva caksuh janati pasyati niyatamaksatito jagadsesam 29 ratnamihendranilam dugdhadhyusitamyatha svabhasa abhibhuya tadapi dugdham vartate tatha jnanamarthesu 30 yadi tena santyartha jnane jnanai na bhavati sarvagatam sarvagatam va jnanam katham na jnanasthata arthah 31 grhati naiva na muncati na param parinamati kevali bhagavan pasyati samantatah sa janati sarvam niravasesam 32
17 Vicitra saktiyogino jnanino arthasvapravesa, Tika, gatha 30.