Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 367

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
[Ch. Vi
the studies of a considerable number of the Vedic literatures1 which were in this language.
As regards the definition of Bhasa (Language or speech) this canonical work precisely explains that it is the carrier or instrument of understanding, i.e. vehicle of thought.
"Se nuņam bhamte manņāmīti ohāriņi bhāsā".
In this connection a scientific explanation of Bhasa (specch) is given here that speech is not the soul but it is other than the soul, i.e. matter.
"No āyā bhāsā annā bhāsā".
It is endowed with form, is unconscious and non-living, and belongs to the beings.
Bhāsā, before and after the speaking times is not the speech, but when it is being spoken, it is speech, because the speech before and after the speaking times does not break forth (get transformed), but when it is being spoken, it gets transformed.
"No puvvim bhāsā bhāsijjamāṇī bhāsā no
bhāsāsamayavītikkaṁtā bhāsā."
"No puvvim bhāsā bhijjati bhāsijjamāṇī bhāsā bhijjai no bhāsāsamaya vītikkaṁtā bhāsā bhijjati".
Literature
Literature is the reflection of human thoughts and ideas and the representation of education, learning and culture of the social life, made through the instrument of language and embodied in letters on the writing materials.
It carries the message of knowledge and the cultural heritage of a people or a country from the distant past upto the present day.
The extent of the literary works as revealed in the BhS clearly shows a great intellectual development of the people of its period and throws a welcome light upon the historical back
1 BhS, 2, 1, 90. Ib, 13, 7, 493.
2 Ib, 2, 6, 114.
4 Ib, 13, 7, 493; 1, 10, 80.