________________
The World of Life : Plants
97
also thus badaranigodas also, - paryāptakas apd aparyāptas also42 should be treated.
Nigodajivas also are thus of seven classes and all are infinite in number from the modal point of view.43
Next the Jivābhigama sutta discusses the comparative numbers ( alpaiva-bahutva ) of all types of Nigodas and Nigodajivas from the substantial and modal points of view.44
These ultra miscroscopic forms of living beings (nigodas) take their name from the very fact that they are tiny enough to exist in infinite number in common Nigodaśarira.45 Nigodas do not really reproduce themselves, but they are reproduced in infinite number by the enzymic machinery present in other living cells, as it is suggested by the statement that in the common body when one soul dies, there is death of infinite souls (with it ), (while ) when one is born, there is the birth of infinite souls there. 46
Estimates of the size of nigodas have been made in several different ways : The size of the body of a fine--bodied and non-developable nigoda organism in the third instant after it has taken birth in its nucleus (Yoni) is an innumerable part of one ( cubic ) finger ( anguli). This is the minimum ( bodily size ). The maximum size is found in the fish born in the last and the biggest ocean called Svayambhuramana of the world. 48
The body of a fine-bodied non-developabie Nigoda in a plant body is oblong in the first instant of its birth, square in the second instant, and in the third instant it contracts and becomes circular (or spherical). In the circular state the dimensions of its body are at the minimum, after the third instant it begins to grow,49 i. e. it varies widely in size.
43.
42 giudā ņum bhaṁte padesaţthayáe.........anaṁta, evaṁ suhūmaniuyavi pajjattagāvi
apajjattagavi paesatthayae savve anamta evam, bayaraniuyavi pajjattayāvi apajja tayavi paesitthayāe savve anamta /", Ibid.
“Evam niudajivāva satta viha paesatthayāe savye anamtā /", Ibid. p. 1000. 44. Ibid., pp. 1000. 1007. 45. Ni = Niyatam. gam = bhūmim, Ksetram, nivasamanantānantajivāņām dadatīti
nigodam/", Gommatasara, Jivakānda, v. 191, (comm.), p. 118. 46. "Jatthekka marai jivo tattha du maranam have anamtānam / Vakkamai jattha
ekko vakkamanar tatthanamtānam //", 95.19.3. "Suhūmanigoda apajjayassa jadassa tadiya smayamhi / angula asamkhabhagam
jahannamukkassayam macche //", Gommajasara (Jiva ) 94. 48. Ibid. 49. Ibid. (Comm.), p. 70 J. B.-13
47.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
