Tattvartha Sutra

Author(s): Umaswati, Umaswami, Manu Doshi
Publisher: Shrutratnakar Ahmedabad

Page 23

INTRODUCTION
The book is divided in ten Adhyäys (chapters). The first deals with knowledge, second with the worldly beings, the third with infernal abodes as well as the middle world, the fourth with heavenly abodes and the fifth with Shaddravyas (six original substances). These five chapters constitute Jney Mimänsä.
The next four chapters deal with the conduct and can be considered as belonging to Chäritra Mimänsä. The sixth chapter deals with Äsrav or incoming of Karma and the seventh with restraints as well as with the potentialities for their transgression. The eighth chapter deals with the bondage of Karma and describes the types of bondage, its intensity, duration and plenitude. The ninth chapter deals with Samvar and Nirjarä (prevention and eradication of bondage) and the last one with liberation, the ultimate objective.
While concluding, it is worth pointing out what revered Pundit Sukhlälji has said for studying Tattvärtha Sutra. He has stated that merely studying the text would not give comprehensive idea of the subject. Tattvärthabhäshya as well as Sarvärthasiddhi also need be studied. If one exclusively resorts to any one of them, he would miss the true significance of the composition. He has therefore suggested that after studying the original text, one should undertake the study of Tattvärthabhäshya or of Sarvärthasiddhi and that should be followed by a comparative study of the other. If one wants to go deeper, he can then study Räjvärtik and Shlokvärtik, two other learned commentaries of Tattvärtha Sutra.