Viyahapannatti 5.9.267

5.9.267

At that time and in that period, the venerable elders belonging to the tradition of Pārśva approached the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra. Having approached, standing not too far away from the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, they spoke thus:
“Indeed, Venerable Sir, in the incalculable world, have infinite nights-and-days arisen, do they arise, will they arise? Have they perished, do they perish, will they perish? Or have limited nights-and-days arisen, do they arise, will they arise? Have they perished, do they perish, will they perish?”
“Yes, noble sirs! In the incalculable world, infinite nights-and-days... [and so on, as above].”
“For what reason, [Venerable Sir, ... up to ...] will they perish?”
“Indeed, noble sirs, by the Arhat Pārśva, the noble man, the world has been declared to be eternal—beginningless, endless, limited, enclosed, wide below, contracted in the middle, expansive above, shaped like a couch below, shaped like an excellent vajra in the middle, shaped like an upright mṛdaṅga drum above.
And in that world which is eternal, beginningless, endless, limited, enclosed, wide below, contracted in the middle, expansive above, shaped like a couch below, shaped like an excellent vajra in the middle, shaped like an upright mṛdaṅga drum above, infinite soul-masses, having arisen again and again, pass away; limited soul-masses, having arisen again and again, pass away. It is manifested, arisen, perished, transformed; by non-souls it is seen and observed. That which is observed, is that the world?”
“Yes, Lord!”
“For that reason, noble sirs, it is said: ‘In the incalculable world, infinite nights-and-days... [and so on, as above].’”
From then on, those venerable elders belonging to the tradition of Pārśva recognized the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra, as omniscient and all-seeing.
Then those venerable elders paid homage and obeisance to the Śramaṇa, the Lord Mahāvīra. Having paid homage and obeisance, they spoke thus:
“We desire, Venerable Sir, in your presence, having adopted the Dharma of the five great vows along with repentance in place of the fourfold Dharma, to wander as ascetics.”
“Do as you please, beloved of the gods, but do not make delay.”
Then those venerable elders belonging to the tradition of Pārśva, having adopted the Dharma of the five great vows along with repentance in place of the fourfold Dharma, wandered as ascetics until, with their final inhalations and exhalations, they became liberated souls, enlightened, freed, emancipated, rid of all suffering. Some were reborn in the celestial realms.