लघुदण्डक का एक विमर्शनीय बोल

Summary

The text examines a specific doctrinal point within the Jain Śvetāmbara tradition concerning the *Laghuḍaṇḍaka*, an ancient text widely accepted in the tradition. The point of contention is the thirteenth *dṛṣṭidvāra* (section on viewpoints) of the *Laghuḍaṇḍaka*, which states that the gods of the nine *Graiveyaka* heavens possess only two types of vision: *samyag-dṛṣṭi* (right vision) and *mithyā-dṛṣṭi* (wrong vision), explicitly denying the presence of *samyag-mithyā-dṛṣṭi* (mixed right-and-wrong vision). The author argues this contradicts the *Jīvājīvābhigama* Sūtra, an authoritative *Āgama*, which clearly states that the gods in the *Graiveyaka* heavens, like those in the *Saudharma* and *Īśāna* heavens, can possess all three types of vision. The commentary by Malayagiri on the *Jīvājīvābhigama* confirms this interpretation. To resolve the apparent discrepancy, the text turns to the *Bhagavatī Sūtra* (13/14-16, 13/37) and its commentary. These sources explain that while *samyag-mithyā-dṛṣṭi* beings cannot be born into (*upapanna*) or depart from (*udvartana*) the *Graiveyaka* heavens—because death does not occur in the third *guṇasthāna* (stage of spiritual development)—they can attain this state during their celestial lifespan. Consequently, the *Graiveyaka* realm is sometimes devoid of such beings and sometimes not. Therefore, the *Laghuḍaṇḍaka*’s statement is correct only from the perspective of birth and departure, but incorrect regarding the overall presence of beings with mixed vision. The author concludes