Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)

by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626

This page describes the function of the souls (jiva) which is verse 5.21 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 Non-living Substances and includes an extensive commentary.

Verse 5.21 - The function of the souls (jīva)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 5.21:

परस्परोपग्रहो जीवानाम् ॥ ५.२१ ॥

parasparopagraho jīvānām || 5.21 ||

The function of the souls (jīva) is to help one another. (21)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [जीवानाम्] जीवों के [परस्परोपग्रहः] परस्पर में उपकार

Anvayartha: [jivanam] jivom ke [parasparopagrahah] paraspara mem upakara

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

After indicating the assistance given by the matter (pudgala), the help rendered by the souls (jīva) is described.

The word ‘paraspara’ means reciprocity of action. ‘Parasparopa-graha’ means rendering help to one another. That is the help rendered by the souls (jīva) to one another. What is it? It is mutual help as between the master and the servant, and the teacher and the taught. The master renders help to the servant by giving him money. And the servant serves the master by doing him good and protecting him from the evil. The preceptor teaches what is good here and in the next world (birth) and makes his disciples follow his teachings. And the disciple benefits his preceptor by following him and by his devoted service. What is the purpose of the repetition of the word ‘upagraha’? Taking cue from the previous sūtra, it indicates that living beings are also the cause of pleasure (sukha), suffering (duḥkha), living (jīvita), and death (maraṇa) of one another.

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