Tattvartha Sutra

SR No.: 006796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 10 MB

Page 60

INTRODUCTION
43
the Valabhi recitation-session. Thus he said that to admit that a Kevalin consumes gross food and to speak to meat-eating are respectively the cases of a defamation of the Kevalin and a defamation of the scripture. The situation seems to be that subsequently to the composition of Pūjyapādas Sarvārthasiddhia text which in the main clearly expounds duties appropriate to the practice of no-clothing—the entire lot of scriptural texts followed by the party of clothes was so finally and absolutely discarded by a section of the Party of no-clothing as had not been done before. Hence it is that subsequently to the composition of Sarvārthasiddhi the acceptance on the part of the party of no-clothings of scripture pertaining to the party of clothes remained but nominal—as is evident from the pursuit of scriptural studies undertaken by the latter-day Digambara scholars. If there are exceptions to it they are negligible. Really, nearabout the time of Pūjyapāda the mutual tug-of-war and rank partisanship so much characterised the party of no-clothing and that of clothes that subsequently to the composition of Sarvārthasiddhi Tattvārthabhāsya ceased to receive even that little regard from the party of no-clothing which it had managed to retain by that time. Even much consideration does not yet provide an answer to the question as to why, when the party of clothes could somehow or other, in some form or other, and upto this day keep intact the Angic scripture, the party, of noclothing--a party not inferior to the party of clothes as regards intellect, devotion to the scripture, lack of negligence—allow the
1. Keeping in mind the passages related to meat-eating that occur in Bhagavati (Sataka 15), Ācārānga (along with the commentary of śīlānka pp. 334, 335, 348, 352, 364), Praśnavyākarana, (pp. 148, 150), etc. the author of Sarvārthasiddhi declared that to admit occurrence of such passages in the Agama is to defame the scripture. And keeping in mind the account of a kevalin's taking of food that occurs in Bhagavati (šataka 15) he declared that that is tantamount to defaming the Kevalin.
2. Akalanka, Vidyānanda etc. continued to be conversant with the writings of Siddhasena. See Rājavārtika, 8.1.17, Slokavārtika, p. 3.