Reality English Translation of Sarvarthasiddhi

Author(s): S A Jain
Publisher: Jwalamalini Trust Chennai

Page 85

THE OYOLES OF KARMIC MATTER AND SPACE
57
taken in and cast off infinite times. In the middle the absorbed particles are taken in and cast off infinite times. After that, the same particles of matter taken in by the same soul at the beginning attain the same state of quasi-karmic matter in the case of the same soul. All these taken together constitute the cycle of quasi-karmic matter.
Now the cycle of karmic matter is described. Particles of matter transformed into the eight types of karmic matter are taken in by someone soul in one instant and are cast off in the second instant etc., after the lapse of an āvali (twinkling of an eye, consisting of innumerable samayas) and one samaya. Similarly, as described in connection with the cycle of quasikarmic matter, the same particles of matter attain the state of karmas in the case of the same soul. All these put together make one cycle of karmic matter.
"The soul" indeed has taken in (enjoyed) successively all the molecules of matter in the entire universe and has cast them off. And the soul has been revolving infinite times in the cycle of matter." (pudgala parivarttana)
The cycle of space is described next. The subtle, one-sensed, undeveloped being (nigoda jiva), with the utmost minimum extent of body, is born with the central eight points of the universe as the middle of its body. It lives for a very short time and dies. Then the same being with the same extent of body is reborn in the same spot a second time, a third time and a fourth time. In this manner it is reborn in the same spot as many times as there are points in one angula (finger, a measure of length) divided by innumerable. Again, by increase of one more point at a time, the entire universe is made the birth-place of the same soul. The period taken for completing this is one cycle of space.
"There is no point in the entire space of the universe, which has not been the seat of birth of the soul". In this way the soul has been many times roaming, occupying several points in the cycle of space."
i The soul signifies any one soul, as these experiences described in the verses quoted have been undergone by almost all the souls in the beginningless samsāra.