Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the nature of charity (tyaga or dana) which is verse 7.38 of the English translation of the Tattvartha Sutra which represents the essentials of Jainism and Jain dharma and deals with the basics on Karma, Cosmology, Ethics, Celestial beings and Liberation. The Tattvarthasutra is authorative among both Digambara and Shvetambara. This is verse 38 of the chapter The Five Vows and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 7.38 - The nature of charity (tyāga or dāna)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 7.38:
अनुग्रहार्थं स्वस्यातिसर्गो दानम् ॥ ७.३८ ॥
anugrahārthaṃ svasyātisargo dānam || 7.38 ||
Charity (dāna) is the giving of one’s objects to another for mutual benefit–anugraha. (38)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: [अनुग्रहार्थं] अनुग्रह-उपकार के हेतु से [स्वस्यातिसर्गः] धन आदि अपनी वस्तु का त्याग करना सो [दानं] दान है।
Anvayartha: [anugrahartham] anugraha-upakara ke hetu se [svasyatisargah] dhana adi apani vastu ka tyaga karana so [danam] dana hai |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
In describing the causes of influx (āsrava) of the name-karma of the Tīrthaṅkara, charity (tyāga) and austerities (tapa) according to one’s capacity have been mentioned (see sūtra 6-24). Also, there is the mention of atithisaṃvibhāgavrata (see sūtra 7-21). What is the nature of charity–tyāga or dāna?
‘Anugraha’ means beneficial to both, the giver and the recipient. The giver accumulates merit (puṇya); this is benefit to the giver. The gift promotes right knowledge, etc., in the recipient; this is benefit to the recipient. The word ‘sva’ in the sūtra means wealth. Thus, renouncing one’s wealth or possessions for mutual benefit is charity (dāna).