Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the direction of the first of each pair of rivers which is verse 3.21 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 21 of the chapter The Lower World and the Middle World and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 3.21 - The direction of the first of each pair of rivers
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 3.21:
द्वयोर्द्वयोः पूर्वाः पूर्वगाः ॥ ३.२१ ॥
dvayordvayoḥ pūrvāḥ pūrvagāḥ || 3.21 ||
The first of each pair of rivers flows eastwards. (21)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: (ये चौदह नदियाँ दो के समूह में लेना चाहिये) हर एक दो के समूह में से पहली नदी पूर्व की ओर बहती है (और उस दिशा के समुद्र में मिलती है)।
Anvayartha: (ye caudaha nadiyam do ke samuha mem lena cahiye) hara eka do ke samuha mem se pahali nadi purva ki ora bahati hai (aura usa disha ke samudra mem milati hai) |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
The sūtra specifies that these rivers are in groups of two and each group flows in one region. It precludes the interpretation that all the rivers flow in one region. The directions are also indicated by the phrase ‘pūrvāḥ pūrvagāḥ’. The first river in each group falls into the eastern ocean. These are eastern rivers. On what basis is the first to be taken? The sūtra clarifies that the first seven rivers mentioned are not to be taken as the first rivers. First of each pair is to be taken as ‘first’ and these only are the eastern rivers.
What is the direction of the rest?
[see next sūtra]