Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes distress caused to infernal beings which is verse 3.4 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 4 of the chapter The Lower World and the Middle World and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 3.4 - Distress caused to infernal beings
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 3.4:
परस्परोदीरितदुःखाः ॥ ३.४ ॥
parasparodīritaduḥkhāḥ || 3.4 ||
They (the infernal beings) cause pain and suffering to one another. (4)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: नारकी जीव परस्पर एक-दूसरे को दुःख उत्पन्न करते हैं (-वे कुत्ते की भांति परस्पर लड़ते हैं)।
Anvayartha: naraki jiva paraspara eka-dusare ko duhkha utpanna karate haim (-ve kutte ki bhamti paraspara lada़te haim) |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
Is distress caused to infernal beings by heat and cold alone? Or are there other sources of suffering and torment?
How do they cause pain and suffering to one another? Due to the fruition of wrong-belief (mithyādarśana), the infernal beings possess, from birth, wrong-clairvoyance–vibhaṅga avadhijñāna. Due to this, they are able to see the cause of their pain and suffering. Seeing each other, their anger develops into a rage. They recollect their past lives and are actuated by intense animosity. They begin to hit each other like dogs and jackals. By their power of changing forms, they make weapons such as sword, hatchet, axe, spear, pike, javelin and crowbar and with these and also using their hands, feet and teeth, indulge in cutting, splitting, paring and biting, causing intense pain and suffering to one another.