Bhagvati Sutra Part 03 - Book Summary

This document is the third part of the Bhagavati Sutra, a significant Jain text, compiled by Ghevarchand Banthiya and published by Akhil Bharatiya Sudharm Jain Sanskruti Rakshak Sangh. It covers the seventh and eighth centuries (Shatak 7 and Shatak 8) of the text, which are divided into ten chapters (Uddeshak) each.

Summary of Content:

The Bhagavati Sutra, described as a vast treasure trove of Jain philosophy, explores various topics through question-and-answer dialogues. This volume, specifically Part 3, focuses on Shatak 7 and Shatak 8.

Shatak 7:

Chapter 1 (Uddeshak 1): Discusses those who are "anāhāraka" (not taking sustenance) and "alpāhāraka" (taking minimal sustenance), and the timeframe associated with these states. It also touches upon the structure of the cosmos (loka sansthan) and the types of karma that accrue from different activities (iryāpathikī and sāmparāyikī kriyā). It delves into the vows of a lay follower (shramanoppāsaka) and the benefits of offering food to ascetics. The chapter also discusses the "karma-rahita jīva" (soul devoid of karma) and its journey.
Chapter 2 (Uddeshak 2): Focuses on "supratyākhyāna" (right renunciation) and "duspratyākhyāna" (wrong renunciation), distinguishing between different types of vows (mūla-guṇa and uttara-guṇa). It also addresses whether souls are eternal or transient.
Chapter 3 (Uddeshak 3): Explores the "āhāra" (sustenance) of stationary beings (sthāvara jīvas) across different seasons and discusses the concept of "leshya" (soul-coloring) and "alpa-karma" (minimal karma) and "maha-karma" (great karma) in relation to different existential realms. It also clarifies the distinction between "vedanā" (feeling of pain/pleasure) and "nirjarā" (shedding of karma).
Chapter 4 (Uddeshak 4): Discusses "saṃsāra-samāpannaka jīvas" (souls involved in the cycle of rebirth), their classification, and the "kriyā" (actions) associated with them.
Chapter 5 (Uddeshak 5): Details the various types of "khechara" (sky-dwelling) beings.
Chapter 6 (Uddeshak 6): Explains the concept of "āyu" (lifespan) – its binding and experience. It further elaborates on the conditions of "duṣam-duṣamā kāla" (a period of extreme suffering) in Bharatavarsha, the characteristics of humans during that time, their food sources, and their future states of existence. It also discusses the conditions of ascetics regarding their conduct.
Chapter 7 (Uddeshak 7): Differentiates between "saṃvr̥ta anagāra" (a controlled ascetic) and "asaṃvr̥ta anagāra" (an uncontrolled ascetic) and their associated actions. It explores the nature of "kāma" (desires) and "bhoga" (enjoyments) and the states of "chhadmastha" (one with obscured knowledge) and "kevalī" (one with omniscient knowledge). It also defines "akāma vedanā" (pain experienced without desire) and "prakāma vedanā" (pain experienced with desire).
Chapter 8 (Uddeshak 8): Discusses "pratyākhyāna" (renunciation) in relation to knowledge and ignorance. It also elaborates on the states of "samyakdarshan" (right faith), "mithyādarshan" (wrong faith), and "samyak-mithyādarshan" (mixed faith). It further explains the concept of "mūla-guṇa" (fundamental vows) and "uttara-guṇa" (secondary vows) and their respective renunciations. It also touches upon "śāśvata" (eternal) and "aśāśvata" (non-eternal) beings.
Chapter 9 (Uddeshak 9): Details the consequences of actions related to "aṅgāra" (embers), "dhūma" (smoke), and "saṃyojanā" (combination of substances) in food. It also discusses "kṣetrātikrānta" (transgressing the region), "kālātikrānta" (transgressing the time), "mārgātikrānta" (transgressing the path), and "pramāṇātikrānta" (transgressing the measure) in the context of ascetic conduct. It further examines "śastrātīta" (beyond weapons) and other states related to purity in alms-receiving. It also covers the analysis of "kālaudāyī" and other non-Jain ascetics.
Chapter 10 (Uddeshak 10): Discusses "kālaudāyī's" philosophical discussions and renunciation. It also covers the nature of "pāpa" (sin) and "puṇya" (merit) and their consequences, the concept of "saṃjñā" (mental states/inclinations), and the "kriyā" (actions) associated with living beings. It also clarifies the difference between "vedanā" (experience of pain/pleasure) and "nirjarā" (shedding of karma) and the paradoxical concepts of "śāśvata" (eternal) and "aśāśvata" (non-eternal) beings.

Shatak 8:

Chapter 1 (Uddeshak 1): Focuses on the "pudgala" (matter) and its "pariṇata" (transformations) like "prayoga-pariṇata" (transformed by application), "miśra-pariṇata" (mixed transformation), and "visraśā-pariṇata" (natural transformation). It further classifies these transformations based on the number of substances involved (one, two, three, etc.), the nature of the transformation (mental, verbal, physical), the quality of the transformation (truthful, false, mixed), and the specific characteristics like colour, smell, taste, touch, and form.
Chapter 2 (Uddeshak 2): Deals with "āśīviṣa" (venomous creatures) of different species and "karma-āśīviṣa" (karmic poison). It also discusses the scope of "jñāna" (knowledge) and "ajñāna" (ignorance) and their classifications. It delves into the "alpa-bahutva" (lesser-greater) of souls possessing different types of knowledge and ignorance.
Chapter 3 (Uddeshak 3): Details the classification of "vr̥kṣa" (trees) based on the number of souls they contain. It also discusses the concept of "jīva-pradeśa" (soul-regions) and their interaction with external elements like weapons. It then enumerates the "aṣṭa pṛthvī" (eight earth-elements) and their characteristics.
Chapter 4 (Uddeshak 4): Focuses on "kriyā" (actions) and their classifications, such as "kāyikī" (bodily), "adhikaraṇikī" (related to instruments), "prādevikī" (related to movement), "pāritāpanikī" (causing suffering), and "prāṇātipātiki" (causing destruction of life).
Chapter 5 (Uddeshak 5): Discusses "ājīvika" (a heterodox sect) and their beliefs, contrasting them with "śramaṇopāsaka" (Jain lay follower). It also elaborates on the "bhāṇḍa" (possessions) of a lay follower and the implications of their loss or recovery. It discusses the types of celestial abodes ("devloka").
Chapter 6 (Uddeshak 6): Differentiates between the fruits of offering sustenance to ascetics ("śramaṇa") and non-ascetics ("aśramaṇa"). It also examines the conditions of "śrāva-vrata" (lay vows) and their breaches. It further describes the characteristics of humans during the "duṣam-duṣamā kāla" (period of extreme suffering), their food, rebirths, and the nature of "karmas" (actions) that lead to these states. It also discusses the classification of knowledge and ignorance in relation to different types of souls.
Chapter 7 (Uddeshak 7): Further elaborates on the distinction between different types of ascetics based on their control over actions and knowledge. It explores the concept of "kāma" (desires) and "bhoga" (enjoyments) and their relation to different types of souls. It also discusses "chhadmastha" (one with obscured knowledge) and "kevalī" (one with omniscient knowledge) and the experience of "akāma vedanā" (pain without desire).
Chapter 8 (Uddeshak 8): Continues the discussion on "pratyākhyāna" (renunciation) and its different classifications. It explains the concept of "pratyākhyānī" (one who has renounced) and "apratyākhyānī" (one who has not renounced) souls and their relative numbers. It also examines the nature of souls regarding their knowledge and ignorance, and the stages of "labdhi" (attainment) of knowledge and conduct. It also discusses the nature of "yoga" (activity) and "upayoga" (consciousness) in relation to knowledge and ignorance. It further elaborates on the "jñāna" (knowledge) and "ajñāna" (ignorance) in relation to different existential states and lifestages. It concludes by classifying "labdhi" (attainment) of knowledge, faith, conduct, strength, and senses, and the "alpa-bahutva" (lesser-greater) of souls possessing these.
Chapter 9 (Uddeshak 9): Focuses on "bandha" (bonding of karma) – its types like "aiyāpathika" (karma due to movement) and "sāmpārayika" (karma due to kashaya/passions). It meticulously details the conditions under which these karmas are bound by different souls and the temporal extent of these bonds. It also delves into the characteristics of "prayoga-bandha" (karma bound by application of mind, speech, or body) and "visraśā-bandha" (karma bound by natural inclination). It further categorizes these bonds based on the type of body (audārika, vaikirya, āhāraka, taijasa, kārmana) and the nature of the bondage (partially or fully). It also analyzes the "bandhakas" (those who bind karma) in terms of their quantity and relative existence.
Chapter 10 (Uddeshak 10): Discusses the concepts of "śruta" (scriptural knowledge) and "śīla" (conduct/virtue) and their respective merits. It categorizes souls into different types of "ārādhanā" (practice/devotion) based on their knowledge, faith, and conduct. It also explains the "āralpabahuṭva" (lesser-greater) of souls in different stages of spiritual progress. It further elaborates on "puḍgala-pariṇāma" (transformations of matter) in terms of color, smell, taste, touch, and form. It also discusses the nature of "śīla" (virtue) and "śruta" (scriptural knowledge) and their relative importance. Finally, it delves into the "pudgala-dravya" (matter-substance) and its "pradeśas" (regions) and their interaction with "jīva" (soul) and "loka" (cosmos). It also explains the relationship between "karma-vargaṇā" (karmic matter) and souls.

The publisher, Akhil Bharatiya Sudharm Jain Sanskruti Rakshak Sangh, based in Jodhpur, with a branch in Beawar, Rajasthan, has ensured this publication includes explanations of difficult words and the essence of the verses. The preface acknowledges the generous support of Shri Jasvantlal Bhai Shah from Mumbai for the "Agam Battisi Prakashan Yojana" (publication plan of 32 Agams), making this fifth edition affordable. The publication is intended for private and personal use only.