Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 582

Sec. 1] Studies in THE BHAGAWATİ SUTRA
557 other state than its own (anyāpoha). "Atthittañ atthitte patiņamai natthittam natthitte pariņamai”. For example, the entity or being of earth as lump exists in the being of a jar in the transformed state "(ya thā mrddravyasya pindaprakārena sattā ghataprakāra sattāyām iti)”. It is a case of astitva, while that of nāstitva is explained by the example of the state of darkness due to the state of absence or destruction of light, "dīpādivināšasyāpi. tamisrādirūpatayā pariņamāt.”:
These principles of astitva and nāstitva are co-related with each other from the points of view of eternality of the Universe (inhabited portion, and the Non-Universe (uninhabited portion), living and non-living substances without the priority of existence of any one of them. Thus it is explained that both the Universe and the Non-Universe, living and non-living substances are eternal without succession.
The BhS expounds that finiteness and infiniteness, eternality and non-eternality are co-related from different aspects of substance, space, time, condition, etc., in relation to the Universe and soul. For example, the substance-world (dravyaloka) and spaceworld (ksetraloka) are finite and non-eternal from the points of view of substance and space, and infinite and eternal from those of time and condition, i. e. temporal dimension and model expression. Similarly soul (Jiva) is finite and non-eternal from the aspects of substance and space, and infinite and eternal from those of time and condition (thāva) respectively. Conception of Substance (Dravya) or Reality and its Nature
According to the metaphysical principles laid down in the BhS the Universe is a system of Reals all inter-related with one another with regard to dravya (substance), ksetra (space), kāla (time) and bhāva (condition), having a fundamental unity comprising the plurality of inter-dependent and inter-connected substances, Dravya is endowed with gūnas (qualities), inifinite' in number. From the Vyavahāra Naya (practical or empirical standpoint) the flowing molasses is endowed with sweet taste and from that of
i Bhs, 1, 3, 32.
Ib, (comm.).
3_4 Ib, 2, 1, 91.