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XXIX. The varieties of souls, and their number
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fault in infinity of living creatures, to that effect an orientation can be conceived: In His Holiness' view there is in the six corporations of living beings difference of little and much as follows: the least numerous are those of the mobile class; countable-fold more numerous than these are the fire-class; surpassing these in kinds are the earth-class; surpassing these in kinds are the water-class; surpassing these in kinds are the air-class: (234) than these infinite-fold (more numerous) are those of the tree-class: and these are normal (vyävaharika) or abnormal, because of the statement -
"Golas are innumerable'); what has countless Nigodas is called Golaka; In each single Nigoda infinite souls should be recognized. As many as out of the mass of normal (samvavahāra) souls here are perfected,
So many from the beginningless mass of trees arrive therein." And as many souls as from anywhere go to liberation, so many from the beginningless mass of trees of Nigodas arrive there.
Nor is there for that any diminution thereof (of the mass), because of the inexhaustableness of the infinity of Nigoda souls. And the own-form of the Nigodas is to be learnt from the Samaya-sāgara). And those who even in beginningless, endless, time have attained, attain, or will attain Nirvåņa do not constitute even an infinitesimal fraction of the Nigodas, nor did constitute, nor will constitute. And therefore how is there the consequence of the coming of the liberated into worldly life, and how is there the drawing the consequence of emptiness of mundane existence ? And this is approved on the part of those of other flocks also: and, as was said by the author of the Värttika 18) -
"Therefore also, though the wise are being constantly liberated, There is because of the infinity of souls in the Brahrnānda world not emptiness. That which has size is associated with termination, deficiency and excess,
But in a thing without limit surely there is no possibility of these." This is the meaning of the verse.
14) On golas and nigodas see note XI 13). 15) An unknown work. 16) On Um svāti's Tattvärthadhigama-sūtra?
