________________
TATTVĀRTHA SUTRA
FOREWORD
The development of any religious philosophy and ethics -- its precepts and practices - depends on its fundamentals. The study of fundamentals is, therefore, inescapable for anyone desirous of studying any religious philosophy.
Tattvārthasūtra by Vācaka Unāsvāti is a unique compendium that presents all Jaina fundamentals in one volume in the form of precise and crisp aphorisms. Its study is inescable for a student of Jaina philosophy. Its value is all the more pronounced as it is accepted as an authoritative text by both – Śvetämbara and Digambara -- traditions of the Jainas.
In keeping with its importance a number of commentaries have been written, since its composition some time in the 1st to 3rd century AD, besides the auto commentary (Svopajña Bhāsya) by the aphorist himself, by many a scholarly commentators belonging to the monastic as well as lay denominations. However, more important commentaries on this work are - Sarvärthasiddhi, Tattvārtha Rājavārtika, Tattvārtha Slokavārtika and Haribhadrīya Vrtti. Some of the prominent contemporary commentaries and translations include those by Acārya Ātināramjī, Acārya Ghāsilaljī, Upadhyāya Kevalmuni, Pt. Sukhlalji Sanghvi, Pt. Khubcandjī Siddhantaśāstrī. The LD Institute of Indology has also brought out an English translation of the commentary by Pt. Sukhlalji.
However, as all these works are quite lengthy and beyond the comprehension of an uninitiated layman, a need has always been felt for a shorter translation cum commentary in Hindi as well
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
