Book Title: Reals on the Jaina Metaphysics
Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Shatnidas Khetsy Charitable Trust Mumbai

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Page 332
________________ Soul 317 deaths and in some respects are not better off than the human beings. Like ourselves, they also want pleasant things and avoid unpleasant ones. The Infernal beings live in the various hells. They are endowed with the power of assuming any shape or form, but this power is only a source of trouble and pain to them. There is nothing like the miseries and pains of the hellish beings. On account of vicious acts, done in their previous incarnations, they become denizens of the hells and suffer untold and unbearable pains for a very long time. In some of the hells, there are Devils who excite the Nāraka's, one against the other; these unfortunate infernal beings constantly fight against and smite one another and thus enhance their own pains. The Manuşya's or human souls are divided into two classes, viz:-the Arya's and the Mleçcha’s. The Arya's are born in that part of the world which is called Aryakhanda. The Saka's, the Bhila's etc. although they are found in Arya-khanda, are Mleçcha. These inhabit the Mleçcha-khanda and the Antar-dvipa's (inner islands) of the universe. The people who are born in sacred places e.g. Kāśi, etc. are Kșetrarya i.e. Arya's, on account of the Place. Those who come of such noble families as Ikşvāku etc. are Jātyārya i.e. Arya's by Birth. The Arya's who earn their livelihood by trade etc. are called Sāvadya-karmārya i.e. Ārya's whose acts are not pure. Those again who are householders and believers as well, with a partial self-control are Alpa-sāvadya-karmārya i.e. Ārya's whose acts are slightly impure. The Arya's who are pious persons with perfect self-control are called Asāvadya-karmārya i.e. Arya's whose acts are never impure. The holy persons who practise right conduct and are on the way to final emancipation, Mokşa, -are Çāritrārya i.e. Ārya's by conduct. He who is possessed of Right Faith is Darśanārya i.e. an Arya by Faith. Besides, people who have a highly developed Buddhi, Kriyā, Tapa's, Bala, Auşadha, Rasa, Kșetra and Vikriyā are also Arya's. All animals, other than the human beings, who are found Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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