Tattvartha Sutra

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

Page 30

16
TATTVÄRTHA SUTRA
lives. The same logic is applicable in those cases, where it arises by virtue of some sudden impact. In their case the perception, which they had brought forth, lay dormant till getting that impact. In either of these cases, the souls concerned must have made the endeavor during the earlier lives.
The other alternative is to gain it by learning, by developing capability for the purpose. It requires conscious efforts to gain the right perception. That is termed as adhigam. The great majority of the people fall in that category. Most people are born without any accomplishment. They have to strive for achieving the same. Those, who endeavor, succeed in gaining the right perception; while those, who do not, stay bereft of it. They are not aware of their potentialities and stay stuck with wrong approach, which is called mithyätva.
जीवाजीवात्रवबन्धसंवरनिर्जरामोक्षास्तत्त्वम् ॥१-४॥ 1.4: Jeevajeeväsravbandhsamvarnirjarämokshästattvam.
(Soul, lifeless matter, incoming of Karma, bondage, prevention, eradication and liberation constitute the categories of truth.)
This sutra specifies Jeev (Soul), Ajeev (Lifeless matter), Äsrav (Incoming of Karma), Bandh (Bondage), Samvar (Prevention of Karma), Nirjarä (Eradiation of bondage) and Moksha (Liberation) as the main aspects that constitute truth. Of those seven aspects, the first two, soul and lifeless matter, are most vital. There are several lifeless substances, but we are mainly concerned with Pudgal (tangible matter), which is the only substance the soul can interact with. The soul has infinite