08-03-2022, 08:35 AM
Gatha-23
The soul (ātmā) is coextensive with knowledge (jñāna). Lord Jina has expounded that knowledge (jñāna) is coextensive with the objects-of-knowledge (jñeya). All objects of the universe (loka) and beyond (aloka) are the objects-of-knowledge (jñeya). Therefore, knowledge is all-pervasive (sarvagata or sarvavyāpaka);
it knows everything.
Explanatory Note:
The substance (dravya) is coextensive with its qualities (guna) and modes (paryāya). Gold is coextensive with its mode of earring or bangle, also with its quality of yellowness. Therefore, the soul (ātmā) must be coextensive with its quality of knowledge (jñāna). Just as the fire in the fuel is coextensive with the fuel, knowledge (jñāna) is coextensive with the objects-ofknowledge (jñeya). All six substances (dravya), with their infinite modes (paryāya) of the past, the present and the future, in the universe (loka) and the infinite space (ākāśa) in the non-universe (aloka) beyond it, are the objects-of-knowledge (jñeya).
Gatha -24,25
The uninformed who does not admit that the soul (ātmā) is coextensive with knowledge (jñāna), must concede that the soul is either smaller or larger than knowledge. If the soul is smaller than knowledge, knowledge becomes insentient and loses its ability to know. If the soul is larger than knowledge, how will it know without knowledge?
Explanatory Note:
If the soul is smaller than knowledge, (quality of) knowledge becomes inanimate, like touch, taste and smell. Inanimate knowledge must lose its ability to know. If the fire
is smaller than its (quality of) heat then heat without fire becomes cold and must lose its power to burn. If the soul is larger than knowledge, the soul without (quality of) knowledge becomes inanimate like pot or cloth. Inanimate soul must lose its ability to know. If fire is larger than its (quality of) heat then fire without heat becomes cold and must lose its power to burn. The soul, thus, is coextensive with knowledge, neither less nor more.
The soul (ātmā) is coextensive with knowledge (jñāna). Lord Jina has expounded that knowledge (jñāna) is coextensive with the objects-of-knowledge (jñeya). All objects of the universe (loka) and beyond (aloka) are the objects-of-knowledge (jñeya). Therefore, knowledge is all-pervasive (sarvagata or sarvavyāpaka);
it knows everything.
Explanatory Note:
The substance (dravya) is coextensive with its qualities (guna) and modes (paryāya). Gold is coextensive with its mode of earring or bangle, also with its quality of yellowness. Therefore, the soul (ātmā) must be coextensive with its quality of knowledge (jñāna). Just as the fire in the fuel is coextensive with the fuel, knowledge (jñāna) is coextensive with the objects-ofknowledge (jñeya). All six substances (dravya), with their infinite modes (paryāya) of the past, the present and the future, in the universe (loka) and the infinite space (ākāśa) in the non-universe (aloka) beyond it, are the objects-of-knowledge (jñeya).
Gatha -24,25
The uninformed who does not admit that the soul (ātmā) is coextensive with knowledge (jñāna), must concede that the soul is either smaller or larger than knowledge. If the soul is smaller than knowledge, knowledge becomes insentient and loses its ability to know. If the soul is larger than knowledge, how will it know without knowledge?
Explanatory Note:
If the soul is smaller than knowledge, (quality of) knowledge becomes inanimate, like touch, taste and smell. Inanimate knowledge must lose its ability to know. If the fire
is smaller than its (quality of) heat then heat without fire becomes cold and must lose its power to burn. If the soul is larger than knowledge, the soul without (quality of) knowledge becomes inanimate like pot or cloth. Inanimate soul must lose its ability to know. If fire is larger than its (quality of) heat then fire without heat becomes cold and must lose its power to burn. The soul, thus, is coextensive with knowledge, neither less nor more.