Reality English Translation of Sarvarthasiddhi

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

Page 86

58
THE CYCLES OF TIME AND INCARNATION
Now the cycle of time is described. Someone (being) is born in the first instant of the ascending cycle of time, and dies after completing his lifetime. Again, the same being is reborn in the second instant of the next ascending cycle and dies at the end of his lifetime. Again, the same being is reborn in the third instant of the third ascending cycle. In this manner the ascending cycle of time is completed. Similarly the descending cycle also. Thus birth must be taken in an uninterrupted manner, that is without any interval. Similarly, death also must be understood without any interval. So much constitutes a cycle of time.
"The soul revolving in the cycle of time has been born as well as dead several times in the instants of the ascending as well as the descending cycles of time.'
The cycle of incarnation (state of existence) is described next. In the infernal state, the minimum lifetime is ten thousand years. Some being is born with that lifetime in that region and after wandering is born again with the same lifetime. In this manner, he is born in the same region as many times as there are instants in ten thousand years. Again, by increase of one instant at a time, the lifetime of thirty-three sāgaropamas is completed. Further, coming out from the infernal regions, he is born in the animal world with the minimum duration of within forty-eight minutes. And in the manner mentioned above, the lifetime of three palyas1 is completed. Similarly with regard to the human state of existence. In the celestial state it is like that of infernal beings. But there is this difference. It must be taken up to the completion of thirty-one sagaropamas. All these taken together constitute one cycle of incarnation.
"Owing to association with misbelief, the soul has revolved many times, being born with the minimum etc. lifetime in all the states of existence from the infernal regions up to the upper Graiveyaka Heavens."
Now the cycle of thought is described. Some being endowed with the five senses and the mind and actuated by wrong
1 For palya, sāgaropama, etc, refer to commentary on III, 38.