Book Title: Tattvartha Sutra
Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Page 317
________________ 144 TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA while on account of his association with a particular continent that he is called Jambūdvīpin (i.e. one belonging to Jambūdvīpa), Dhātakıkhandin (i.e. one belonging to Dhātakīkhanda). 14. The human race is chiefly divided into two classes—viz. Āryas and Mlecchas. Depending on the distinguishing circumstances the Āryas are of six types. Thus some are Aryas owing to location, some Āryas owing to race, some Aryas owing to family, some Āryas owing to activity, some Āryas owing to industrial skill, some Aryas owing to language. Āryas owing to location are those who are born in one of the fifteen Karmabhūmis and there too in what are called Āryalands?. Aryas owing to race are those who are born among the races like Iksvaku, Videha, Hari, Jñāta, Kuru, Ugra etc. Āryas owing to family are the Kulakaras, Cakravartins, Baladevas, Vāsudevas as also those others who are born in highly dignified families. Āryas owing to activity are those who earn their livelihood through performing Yajña and making others perform it, through undertaking studies and making others undertake them, through agriculture, penmanship, trade etc. Aryas owing to industrial skill are the weavers, barbers, potters, etc. who earn their livelihood through a profession that involves meagre violence and is blameless. Aryas owing to languages are those who conveniently speak and otherwise make use of a language given recognition to by cultured personages. All those who lack features characteristic of these Āryas of six types are Mlecchas?. 1. In each of the five Bharatas and five Airāvatas there are enumerated twenty-five and a half Arya-lands. Thus these amount to 255 Arya-lands in all and, besides, the 160 Cakravarti-Vijayas situated in the five Videhas are also Ārya-lands. It is only in these lands that the tīrthankaras are born and preach religion. The entire area of the fifteen Karmabhūmis that remains there after excluding these Ārya-lands is denied the status of an Ārya-land. 2. By cultured personages are to be understood tīrthankaras, ganadharas etc. who are possessed of superior capacities and languages that are theirs are Sanskrit, Ardhamāgadhi etc. 3. According to this definition those residing in one of the 30 bhogabhūmis (lit. fields of enjoyment) or akarmabhūmis (lit. fields of non-action) like Haimavata etc. are all veritably Mlecchas. 15. Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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