Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 587

562
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
Ch. x
As regards the equality of the soul the BIS reveals that the soul of an elephant and that of a Kunthu (insect) are equal."
Soul pervades the body in which it exists, e. g. the whole bodies of tortoises, allegators, cows, men, buffaloes, etc., and even their inner parts, cut into two to innumerable pieces.' It may in some respect exist in every point of space of the Universe and even in an atom or may not exist in them in other respect, because they are endowed with soul in reference to its presence (sva-ādista) and with not-soul in reference to the presence of not-soul (para-ādista).
Soul is imperishable, immortal and impenetrable ; no man can cause pain or destruction to it or cut its inner points by touching with hand or cutting them asunder with a sharp weapon or burning them with fire. It is eternal from the point of view of time and non-eternal from that of the State of existences (gati), because it was, is, and will be ; and it undergoes transmigration from one birth to another.
Soul is finite from the aspects of substance and space, for it is a single substance possessed of innumerable points and immersed in innumerable points of space, but it is infinite from that of condition, because it is endowed with infinite modes of knowledge, of self-awareness, of conduct, etc.?
As a changing entity soul always vibrates in different forms, moves further and goes to all directions; then it enters into the world, agitates, rises up and transforms itself into different conditions.
Soul is the agent of all actions of beings, for without it eighteen kinds of sinful acts (act of killing upto the perverted attitude), and the act of desistence from them, different states of the soul (bhāva), perception (avagraha), speculation (ihā), i.e. desire to know, determination (avāya), retention (dhảraņā), exertion,
1 Bhs, 7, 8, 294. 4 Ib, 8, 3, 325. 8 16, 3, 3, 153.
2 15, 8, 3, 325. 5 Ib, 9, 33, 387.
3 Ib, 12, 10, 469, _7 16, 2, 1, 91.