Moksha Marg Prakashak

Author(s): Todarmal Pandit
Publisher: Kundkund Kahan Digambar Jain Trust

Page 28

( xxv]
Therefore, in the beginning the mundane state of bondage and its causes have been considered. This is mainly the subject matter of the first seven chapters. In the Eight Chapter a detailed and comprehensive discussion is found about the technique of understanding the essence of the real message of Jain literature. The Ninth Chapter which has remained incomplete, marks the beginning of a detailed consideration of the liberation path.
The First Chapter is the foundation chapter in which first of all in two verses obeisance is offered to the passionless science of knowledge by following which the panchparmeshthis have become adorable. Thereafter, after adoration of Panchparmeshthis, their traits, the objective of adoration, authenticity of the book, and purpose of writing it have been logically and judiciously discussed. This follows characteristics of Shastras worth reading and listening to, traits of discoursers and listeners. In the end, the purposefulness of the name of the book and the object of writing it have been established
The Second Chapter contains description of the mundane existence. Sufficient thought is given to the bonded state of the soul, the existence of the bonded state from beginningless times, separate identity of Karmas from the soul and division of Karmas into obscuring (Ghati) and non-obscuring (Aghati), substantive and psychic, etc. Thereafter, light is thrown on new bondage and its causes. At the end, the partially evolved dependent state of knowledge and the state of the soul in bonded state have been considered in detail.
In the Third Chapter, mundane miseries, basic causes of miseries i.e. perverse faith-knowledge-conduct, dispositions of the soul under the influence of passions and ways and means of freeing oneself from the same are described. Thereafter, the transmigratory states of the soul in the form of one-sensed being, etc. and the miseries suffered in these states along with the means ofending such miseries are discussed. This chapter ends with a description of the Siddha state and it has been logically established that all miseries come to an end in this state and endless total bliss is produced which should be the sole objective of every soul.
The subject matter of the Fourth Chapter is the involvement of the soul from beginningless times in false belief - knowledge and