Tattvartha Sutra

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 19

TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
Explanation was originally intended to be written out and in what form was it actually written out in the end ? Secondly, even if the writing of the Explanation had begun in Hindi why and under what circumstances was it first completed in Gujarati and why afterwards was the whole of this Explanation first published in Gujarati ? Thirdly, what type of readership has been had in mind while writing the Explanation, on what basis has it been written and what are its form and style ?
The Original Plan :
"Some twelve years back when I along with my goodhearted friend Shri Ramanikālal Maganlal Modi B. A. was at Poona we both jointly, after having entertained so many ideas about undertaking literary composition, formulated a clear-cut plan to write out three books. For as the need was felt to teach Jaina philosophy in the pathaśālās, hostels and colleges daily growing in number among both the Svetāmbara and Digambara sects the demand simultaneously arose for books on Jaina philosophy written in a vernacuiar language and following a modern style and such as are acceptable to both the sects. In view of this we decided that the two texts 'Tattvārtha' and 'Sanmati' should be supplied with an explanation while a third book should be written independently under the title Jaina Pāribhāșika Śabdakoşa' (= A Dictionary of the Jaina Technical Terms). In accordance with this original plan of ours we began work on the explanation to Tattvārtha-eleven years back and at Agra.
“We began work in accordance with that elaborate plan of ours and the needed collaborators went on becoming available at the spot, but even before they could settle down there they got scattered in various directions like birds in the sky. And subsequently to that in the nest of Agra I was left behind severely alone. The work on Tattvārtha that had already been begun--as also the work on other projects—was beyond the capacity of myself alone, but on the other hand the determination that the work in hand has to be completed at any cost whatsoever was