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अध्याय-३
In Bharata and Airavata there is rise (regeneration) and fall (degeneration) during the six periods of the two aeons of regeneration and degeneration.
On what basis are there rise and fall? It is on the basis of the six periods of regeneration and degeneration. Of what regions? Of Bharata and Airavata regions. It must be understood that rise and fall is not of the regions; this is impossible. Rise and fall happen to the human beings in these regions. The rise and fall - increase and decrease - pertain to human beings in Bharata and Airavata regions. In what respect do human beings increase and decrease? It is with regard to intellect (anubhava), age (ayuḥ), bodily stature (pramāna), etc. Again, by what are these increase and decrease caused? These are caused by time (kāla). Time (kāla) has two half-cycles, the ascending-utsarpiņi - and the descending - avasarpini. Each of these two is of six divisions. These two are significant names. That half-cycle in which the characteristics of intellect, etc., have ascending tendency is utsarpiņi. And that half-cycle in which intellect, etc., have descending tendency is avasarpini. The descending half-cycle has six divisions:
1) suṣamasuṣamā, of 4 koṭākoți sāgaropama;
2) suṣama, of 3 koṭākoți sāgaropama;
3) suṣamaduṣṣamā, of 2 koṭākoți sāgaropama;
4) duṣṣamasuṣamā, of 1 koṭākoți sāgaropama minus 42,000 years; 5) duṣṣamă, of 21,000 years; and
6) atiduṣṣamă, of 21,000 years.
The ascending (utsarpini) half-cycle has the same divisions but in reverse order, from atiduṣṣama to suṣamasuṣamă. In this half-cycle there is the all-round, progressive increase in age, strength, stature and happiness of living beings.
Each half cycle, the ascending (utsarpiņi) and the descending (avasarpiņi), consists of 10 × 1 crore × 1 crore addha-sāgaropama (10 koṭākoți sāgaropama). Thus, one cycle of time (kalpakāla) gets over in 20 koṭākoți sāgaropama.
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