Viyahapannatti 7.2.344

7.2.344

jīvā ṇaṃ bhaṃte! kiṃ sāsayā? asāsayā?
goyamā! jīvā siya sāsayā, siya asāsayā|
se keṇaṭṭheṇaṃ bhaṃte! evaṃ vuccai–jīvā siya sāsayā? siya asāsayā?
goyamā! davvaṭṭhayāe sāsayā, bhāvaṭṭhayāe asāsayā| se teṇaṭṭheṇaṃ goyamā! evaṃ vuccai–jīvā siya sāsayā, siya asāsayā|
neraiyā ṇaṃ bhaṃte! kiṃ sāsayā? asāsayā?
evaṃ jahā jīvā tahā neraiyā vi| evaṃ jāva vemāṇiyā siya sāsayā, siya asāsayā|
sevaṃ bhaṃte! sevaṃ bhaṃte! tti|

"Venerable Sir, are jīvas eternal or non-eternal?"
"Gautama, jīvas are in a sense eternal, and in a sense non-eternal."
"In what sense, Venerable Sir, is it said: 'jīvas are in a sense eternal, and in a sense non-eternal'?"
"Gautama, from the standpoint of substance they are eternal, and from the standpoint of state they are non-eternal. In that sense, Gautama, it is said: 'jīvas are in a sense eternal, and in a sense non-eternal.'"
"Venerable Sir, are inhabitants of hell eternal or non-eternal?"
"Just as [general] jīvas, so also inhabitants of hell. In this way up to Vaimānikas, they are in a sense eternal, and in a sense non-eternal."
"That is so, Venerable Sir! That is so, Venerable Sir!"