Dialogues of Gautama: His Inquisitiveness
Summary
Compiled from the Bhagavatī Sūtra, this article presents a series of dialogues that display Indrabhuti Gautama’s insatiable inquisitiveness and Mahavira’s systematic instruction. The discussions begin with metaphysics: Gautama asks how many astikāyas exist, and Mahavira explains that five substances—dharma‑āstikāya (medium of motion), adharma‑āstikāya (medium of rest), ākāśa‑āstikāya (space), jīva‑āstikāya (living beings) and pudgala‑āstikāya (matter)—pervade the universe. Further queries explore the soul’s attributes; Mahavira describes infinite categories of knowledge, ignorance and realisation possessed by the soul and explains that this multiplicity makes the soul ‘all‑utilising’. When Gautama asks about the skies, Mahavira distinguishes between the sphere (loka) and the trans‑cosmic non‑sphere (alokākāśa) and notes that the loka shelters souls, their regions and points while the aloka does not. Questions about the shape of time lead Mahavira to assert that the sphere of time encompasses two and a half continents and two oceans. Gautama’s practical enquiries include whether sharp weapons can cut molecules (Mahavira answers they cannot) and whether molecules throb; he replies that sometimes they throb and transform and sometimes they do not. The dialogues conclude with everyday matters such as what burns in a lamp—the flame, not the vessel or wick—and an outline of four types of perceptual knowledge (ābhāsa, upalabdhi, avaya and smṛti). Each exchange is referenced to a specific section of the Bhagavatī Sūtra, emphasising its canonical basis. The article showcases Gautama’s curiosity about cosmology, metaphysics and epistemology and Mahavira’s ability to elucidate complex doctrines in clear, didactic responses.
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Conclusion
The dialogues reveal how Jain doctrine encompasses cosmology, metaphysics and everyday phenomena. Gautama’s questions prompt concise definitions of the five substances, the soul’s attributes, the structure of space and time, and the nature of molecules. Mahavira’s answers demonstrate an orderly classification of reality and highlight Jainism’s analytical approach to knowledge and ethics. By preserving these exchanges, the Bhagavatī Sūtra shows the central role of questioning in Jain pedagogy and the breadth of topics addressed.