Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the two kinds of status-determining karma (gotra) which is verse 8.12 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 12 of the chapter Bondage of Karmas and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 8.12 - The two kinds of status-determining karma (gotra)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 8.12:
उच्चैर्नीचैश्च ॥ ८.१२ ॥
uccairnīcaiśca || 8.12 ||
The high-status (uccagotra) and the low-status (nīcagotra) are the two subdivisions of status-determining (gotra) karma. (12)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: [उच्चैर्नीचैश्च] उच्चगोत्र और नीचगोत्र-ये दो भेद गोत्र कर्म के हैं।
Anvayartha: [uccairnicaishca] uccagotra aura nicagotra-ye do bheda gotra karma ke haim |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
The subdivisions of name-karma have been described. The subdivisions of status-determining (gotra) karma are described next.
The status-determining (gotra) karma is of two kinds: the gotra karma of high-status (uccagotra) and the gotra karma of low-status (nīcagotra). Owing to the rise of the former, an individual is born in a high or noble family of great respectability and prestige. Due to the rise of the latter one gets birth in a low-status family, lacking in prestige and respectability. The high-status family has the tradition of noble conduct; the low-status family has the tradition of vicious conduct.