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À SOURCE-BOOK IN JAINA PHILOSOPHY
view tracing its presentation in the Āgamas, it is clear that Syadvāda and its predicational forms are not later developments. We can find the presentations in the Agamas enunciated from the philosophical points of view.
Gautama Gañadhara asked Bhagavāna Mahāvīra whether the earth called Ratnaprabhā is soul or not?
Bhagavāna Mahāvīra replied,(1) "from one point of view,Ratnaprabhā is ātmā, (2) from another point of view it is no soul; (3) from still another point of view its nature is inexpressible.”
Having heard these predications, Gautama asked again-Lord ! How you are describing the same earth in such different ways ?
Bhagavāna Mahāvīra said (1) it is a soul from the point of view of the self nature of the soul. (2) it is no soul from the point of view of other aspect than the soul and(3) from the point of both the aspects its nature is indescribable.
Then Gautama asked for clarifications on the same lines, regarding the nature of other earths, planets, the habitation of the gods (devaloka) and siddhasila (the place of the liberated souls). He received similar presentations from Mahāvīra. Then he asked about the nature of the Paramāņu (atom) and he got similar precepts. He then asked about the description of the nature of molecules with two pradeśas (having two space units) & he got the following answer.
(1) Molecule with two space units (dvipradesika) is ātman from one point of view.
(2) Molecule with two space units is not ātman from another point of view.
(3) Molecule with two space units is (indescribable (avaktavya) from still other point of view.
(4) Molecule with two space points is ātman and is not ātman from different points of view.
(5) Molecule with two space points is aiman and is indescribable.
| Bhagavati, śataka 12, 30, 10.
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