Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Translation:
**Vṛtti Sūtra**
A Vṛtti Sūtra is a commentary on a Sūtra, which is concise in its word structure and contains a collection of all the meanings of the Sūtra.
**16**
The above characteristics of a Vṛtti Sūtra are fully present in the Cūrṇi Sūtras of Yativṛṣabha. Their word structure is concise, and they contain a description of all the meanings conveyed by the Sūtra. However, the meaning of the term "Cūrṇi" and why these Vṛtti Sūtras of Yativṛṣabha are called "Cūrṇi Sūtras" remains a matter of investigation. Cūrṇis have also been written on the Śvetāmbara Āgamas, but we have not seen any of them being called "Cūrṇi Sūtras." In one place in the Śvetāmbara texts, the characteristic of the term "Cūrṇi" is given as follows:
> "Atthabahulam mahattham heu-nivāsravassaggamghibīram | Bahupaayam avochchinnam gama-ṇayasuddham tu chuṇṇapayaṁ ||"
> This means that which is abundant in meaning, which holds or expounds a great meaning, which is combined with reason, negation, and prefix, which is profound, which is combined with many feet, which is uninterrupted, that is, in which the nature of the object is described in a flowing manner, and which is pure with various means of knowing and Nayas, is called a Cūrṇi, that is, a term related to Cūrṇi.
This explanation of the term "Cūrṇi" applies literally to the Cūrṇi Sūtras of Yativṛṣabha. Even after knowing the clear meaning of the term "Cūrṇi," the question still arises as to why the term "Cūrṇi" was used instead of "Vṛtti" and why this term is used more frequently in Jain literature? While in non-Jain literature, terms like Vṛtti, Vivṛti, etc., are used and seen as prevalent.
By paying attention to the etymology of the term "Cūrṇi," we find the solution to this doubt. In Sanskrit, the root "Cūrṇ" is used in the sense of "pepaṇ" or analysis. The ground part of a wheat, chickpea, or other seed is called "Cūrṇ," and a collection of various types of powders is called "Cūrṇi." The divine sound of the Tīrthankara Bhagavān is said to be in the form of a seed word, which is pregnant with infinite meaning, and the characteristic of the seed word is given in the Dhavala as follows:
> "Saṅkitasaddarayaṇa maṇaṁ tatthāvagamahedubhūda rogalinga saṅgaṁ bījapadaṁ nāma || (Dhavala Śr. 50 536)"
> This means that which is composed of concise words, which is the cause of the knowledge of infinite meanings, which is consistent with various types of signs or symbols, such as a seed word. The Gāthā Sūtras of Kasāya Pāhuḍ contain such seed words in abundance. Yativṛṣabha has described these seed words in his present Vṛtti in a very excellent way, with detailed analysis. Therefore, his Vṛtti has become famous as Cūrṇi.
What kind of or which seed words are used in the Gāthās of Kasāya Pāhuḍ, and how are they pregnant with infinite meaning, and how are they analyzed in the present Cūrṇi Sūtras? See "Cugpada" in Abhidhāna Rājendra.
> "Śraṇaṁ tatyagabha bījapada ghaḍiya sarīra | Jayaghaṁ Bhā. 150 126"