Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the nature of life-karmas (leading to birth in the infernal regions) which is verse 6.15 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 15 of the chapter Influx of Karmas and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 6.15 - The nature of Life-Karmas (leading to birth in the infernal regions)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 6.15:
बह्वारम्भपरिग्रहत्वं नारकस्यायुषः ॥ ६.१५ ॥
bahvārambhaparigrahatvaṃ nārakasyāyuṣaḥ || 6.15 ||
The influx (āsrava) of karmas which lead to life (āyuḥ [āyus]) in the infernal regions is caused by dispositions of excessive activity that result in infliction of pain–ārambha–and attachment to possessions–parigraha. (15)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: [बह्वारम्भपरिग्रहत्वं] बहुत आरम्भ और बहुत परिग्रह होना सो [नारकस्यायुषः] नरकायु के आस्रव का कारण है।
Anvayartha: [bahvarambhaparigrahatvam] bahuta arambha aura bahuta parigraha hona so [narakasyayushah] narakayu ke asrava ka karana hai |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
The causes of the influx of deluding (mohanīya) karmas have been described. The causes of the influx (āsrava) of life-determining (āyuḥ [āyus]) karmas will now be mentioned. First the causes of the influx of karmas that give rise to life in which the fruits are experienced till the end is mentioned.
‘Ārambha’ is activity which causes pain and suffering to the living-beings. ‘Parigraha’ is attachment to possessions, namely, entertaining the thought that ‘this object is mine’. The adjective ‘excessive’ applies to both. Thus, excessive infliction of pain and excessive attachment to possessions cause the influx (āsrava) of life-karma (āyuḥ [āyus]) which leads to birth in hell (naraka). Perpetual cruel activity such as killing, appropriating others’ wealth, excessive attachment to worldly objects and black (kṛṣṇa) thought-colouration (leśyā) with cruel-concentration (raudradhyāna) at the time of death–these cause the influx of life-karma (āyuḥ [āyus]) which leads to birth in the infernal regions.