Book Title: Mahavira Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth Part 1
Author(s): Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya Mumbai
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay
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Svabhavavada (Naturalism) : A Study
V. M. KULKARNI
THE Śvetāśvatara Upanişadı gives a list of first causes of the variety of I the world according to some thinkers. This list includes Time, Nature, Destiny, Chance (Accident), the Elements and Purusa. This paper will confine itself mainly to an investigation of the real nature of the doctrine of Svabhāva (Naturalism as opposed to Accidentalism) by scrutinising available references to it in Sanskrit and Prakrit literature.
In the commentary to the Svetāśvatara Sankarācārya? explains svabhāva as inherent nature of a thing, as, for instance, heat of fire. In the Buddhacarita? Ašvaghosa clearly sets forth the views of the supporters of Svabhāvavāda :
1 काल: स्वभावो नियतिर्यदृच्छा भूतानि योनिः पुरुष इति चिन्त्या ।
संयोग एषां न त्वात्मभावादात्माप्यनीशः सुखदु:खहेतोः ॥ स्वभावमेके कवयो वदन्ति कालं तथान्ये परिमुद्यमानाः । देवस्यैष महिमा तु लोके येनेदं भ्राम्यते ब्रह्मचक्रम् ॥
-Svetāśvatara I. 2, VI. 1 2 स्वभावो नाम पदार्थानां प्रतिनियता शक्तिः । अग्नेरीष्ण्यमिव ।
अग्नेर्यथा योष्णमपां द्रवत्वं तद्वत्प्रवृत्ती प्रकृति वदन्ति । केचित्स्वभावादिति वर्णयन्ति शुभाशुभं चैव भवाभवी च । स्वाभाविकं सर्वमिदं च यस्मादतोऽपि मोघो भवति प्रयत्नः ।।
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