Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the nature of birth among the four states of existence which is verse 6.19 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 19 of the chapter Influx of Karmas and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 6.19 - The nature of birth among the four states of existence
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 6.19:
निश्शीलव्रतत्वं च सर्वेषाम् ॥ ६.१९ ॥
niśśīlavratatvaṃ ca sarveṣām || 6.19 ||
Non-observance of vows (vrata) and supplementary-vows (śīlavrata) causes the influx (āsrava) of life-karma (āyuḥ) leading to birth among all the four states of existence. (19)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: [निःशीलव्रतत्वं च] शील और व्रत का जो अभाव है वह भी [सर्वेषाम्] सभी प्रकार की आयु के आस्रव का कारण
Anvayartha: [nihshilavratatvam ca] shila aura vrata ka jo abhava hai vaha bhi [sarvesham] sabhi prakara ki ayu ke asrava ka karana
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
The word ‘ca’–‘and’–is intended to include what have been referred to. Slight activity that results in infliction of pain–ārambha–and slight attachment to possessions–parigraha–are included herein. Thus, slight ārambha, slight parigraha, non-observance of vows (vrata) and supplementary-vows (śīlavrata) cause the influx (āsrava) of life-karma (āyuḥ) leading to birth among all the four states of existence. Vows (vrata) and supplementary-vows (śīlavrata) are explained later on. The dispositions which prompt non-observance of vows (vrata) and supplementary-vows (śīlavrata) cause the influx of all the four kinds of life-karmas. The word ‘sarveṣām’ means all the four states of existence–as the infernal being (nāraka), the human (manuṣya), the plant and animal (tiryañca) and the celestial-being (deva). Do these lead to birth in heaven also? Yes. Men and women in the lands of paradise (bhogabhūmi), without observance of vows (vrata) and supplementary-vows (śīlavrata) are born in heaven after death.