The Perfect Law

Human, hellish, sub-human, and celestial states are called non-natural modifications. Those modifications which are free from the limitations of karmic influence are called natural. [15]
original Prakrit: "णरणारयतिरियसुरा पज्जाया ते विभावमिदि भणिदा । कम्मोपाधिविवज्जयपज्जाया ते सहावमिदि भणिदा ॥ १५ ॥" / original Sanskrit: "नरनारकतिर्यक्सुराः पर्यायास्ते विभावा इति भणिताः । कर्मोपाधिविवर्जितपर्यायास्ते स्वभावा इति भणिताः ॥ १५ ॥"

15. Human, Hellish, Sub-human term for animals, plants, and microorganisms and Celestial conditions are said to be Non-natural conditions vibhava: states that are not part of the soul's inherent nature. Conditions free from miseries arising from the effect of Karmas are termed Natural svabhava: the soul's own inherent, pure state.

Human beings are of two varieties: those born in the land of labor and those born in the land of enjoyment. The inhabitants of hell should be understood as being of seven types, categorized by the different levels of the earth. [16]
Sub-human beings are said to have fourteen divisions, and the groups of gods have four. A detailed account of these should be sought in the Division of the Universe. [17]
original Prakrit: "माणुस्सा दुवियप्पा कम्ममहीभोगभूमिसंजादा । सत्तविहा णेरइया णादव्वा पुढविभेएण ॥ १६ ॥ चउदहभेदा भणिदा तेरिच्छा सुरगणा चउब्भेदा । एदेसिं वित्थारं लोयविभागेसु णादव्वम् ॥ १७ ॥" / original Sanskrit: "मानुषा द्विविकल्पाः कर्ममहीभोगभूमिसञ्जाताः । सप्तविधा नारका ज्ञातव्याः पृथ्वीभेदेन ॥ १६ ॥ चतुर्दशभेदा भणितास्तिर्यञ्चः सुरगणाश्चतुर्भेदाः । एतेषां विस्तारो लोकविभागेषु ज्ञातव्यः ॥ १७ ॥"

16-17. Human souls are of two kinds: born in the Work-region Karma-bhumi: regions where one must labor and can attain liberation or in the Enjoyment-region Bhoga-bhumi: regions where needs are provided by nature and spiritual progress is limited. Hellish souls should be known to be of seven kinds, corresponding to the regions or layers of hell.

Sub-human souls are said to be of fourteen kinds. Celestial souls are of four kinds. Their detailed account should be known from the scripture Loka-Vibhága literally "Division of the Universe," an ancient Jain text on cosmology.

Commentary.

In the latter half of the 14th verse and the three verses gathas following it, the various modifications paryaya: the changing modes or states of a substance of the soul-substance have been described. Of these modifications, the natural one is the modification found in the pure and liberated condition of the soul. Non-natural modifications are impure conditions which arise through the activity of karmic matter.

With reference to the conditions of existence, the Non-natural modifications are divided into four kinds:
Human, Hellish, Sub-human, and Celestial.