Kalpasutra

Author(s): J Stevenson
Publisher: Oriental Translation Fund London

Page 46

14.
KALPA SÚTRA.
branch with a solid piece of ink as large as an elephant, the second with a piece as large as two elephants, the third with one the size of eight, the fifth of sixteen, the sixth of thirty-two, the seventh of sixty-four, the eighth of one hundred and twenty-eight, the ninth of two hundred and fifty-six, the tenth of five hundred and twelve, the eleventh of one thousand and twenty-four, the twelfth of two thousand and forty-eight, the thirteenth of four thousand and ninety-six, the fourteenth of eight thousand one hundred and ninetytwo. So that the whole was written with sixteen thousand three hundred and eighty-three pieces of ink, each the size of an elephant*; and is therefore called the Mahápurush (the great male)t. Its essence is most profound; and therefore, though a man had a thousand tongues in one mouth, and in one breast perfect knowledge, still he would be unable duly to celebrate the majesty of the Kalpa Sútra.
On the evening of the fifth day of the new moon of Bhadrapad, the reading of the sections of the Kalpa Sútra commenced. It was read, after mak
* This ridicnlous story, with its geometrical progression, will serve to initiate the reader a little into the extravagant system of modern Jain exaggeration.
+ This is a Brahmanical word for the Deity, and on that account here used.