Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)

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

This page describes the afflictions caused by the knowledge-covering karmas which is verse 9.13 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 13 of the chapter Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas and includes an extensive commentary.

Verse 9.13 - The afflictions caused by the knowledge-covering karmas

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 9.13:

ज्ञानावरणे प्रज्ञाऽज्ञाने ॥ ९.१३ ॥

jñānāvaraṇe prajñā'jñāne || 9.13 ||

Extraordinary learning–prajñā, and ignorance–ajñāna, are caused by knowledge-covering (jñānāvaraṇa) karmas. (13)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [ज्ञानावरणे] ज्ञानावरणीय के उदय से [प्रज्ञाऽज्ञाने] प्रज्ञा और अज्ञान ये दो परीषह होती हैं।

Anvayartha: [jnanavarane] jnanavaraniya ke udaya se [prajna'jnane] prajna aura ajnana ye do parishaha hoti haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The particular stages with regard to the afflictions have been ascertained. But what karmas cause what afflictions?

This is improper. What is improper? The affliction of ignorance is consistent with the presence of knowledge-covering (jñānāvaraṇa) karmas. But extraordinary learning arises in the absence of knowledge-covering (jñānāvaraṇa) karmas. The answer is that extraordinary learning, arising from destruction-cum-subsidence–kṣayopaśama–begets pride in the ascetic on the rise of other knowledge-covering (jñānāvaraṇa) karmas. The affliction of (conceit of) extraordinary learning–prajñā–does not arise on total destruction (kṣaya) of knowledge-covering (jñānāvaraṇa) karmas. So it is appropriate to say that the affliction of (conceit of) extraordinary learning–prajñā–arises in the presence of knowledge-obscuring (jñānāvaraṇa) karmas.

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