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THE JAINA GAZETTE
(religion) Arth (wealth), Kama (enjoyment) and Moksha (salvation)] of life; they are the best of men."1 Those who have followed these quotations may very well understand the significance of Samyagdarsana from the point of view of this world and the other world.
Here it would not be out of place to discuss the English equivalents of Samyagdarsana. Many sacred works of Jainism are translated into English and many essays too have been written and this word is adapted in various ways: :-' True Insight '2 'Right conviction '3 'Right Belief '4 'Right cognition '5 Perfect Faith '6 'Right faith." This lack of unity of translation is due to various reasons. Philology has taught people to take always the etymological meaning of words. But to me it appears that this principle cannot be followed without difficulty. And one instance I might point out here. Many Orientalists, both Indian and European have stumbled over the meaning of the word Dharma, one of the queer words of Sanskrit vocabulary, as used in Jaina Physics where it means the fulcrum or principle of Motion' while the scholars took it as Merit'; nothing can be more absurd than this. Many words such as Padarth and Dravya are common to both Nyaya school and Jainism but in details there is a great difference and hence we cannot say that the Padarth or the Dravya of the Jains is the same as that of the Naiyayikas. The word Samyagdarsana is also met with in Sankhya Philosophy of Maha Bharata8 and to me it appears that the meaning of the word there, is quite plain. If we consider only the root-meaning, it may be translated as Right Sight but this has not the significance given in Jain works. The meaning of the word has been a puzzle to many. Tatvarth Slokavartika
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1. Ratnakarandaka, 36 Translation by C. R. Jain.
2.
'Introduction to Jainism by J B. Latthe.
3.
4.
5. By somebody.
6. S. B. J. I.
7.
Outlines of Jainism by G. L. Jaini
'Practical Path by C. R. Jain.
Householder's Dharma.
8. Santiparvan, Ch. 311; 45,
9. Page 83. Bombay Edition.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
