Tattvartha Sutra

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

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TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
contains besides these a third aphorism devoted to the same, viz. “sad dravyalakṣaṇam" -5. 29. Now all these three aphorisms belonging to the Digambara reading are present in their entirely in the following Prākst gāthā of Kundakunda's Pañcāsţikāya
davvam sallakkhaniyam uppādavvayadhuvattasaṁ juttam || gunapajjayāsayam vā jaṁ tam bhannaṁti savvaṇhā ||10|||
Besides, the verbal and conceptual similarity that obtains between Tattvārthasūtra on the one hand and the well-known writings of Kundakunda on the other can in no way be accidental.
The author of the presently available Yogasūtra is understood to be Patañjali, but it is not yet ascertained as to whether Patañjali, the author of Vyākaraṇa—Mahābhāsya, is or is not the same person as the author of Yogasūtra. If Patañjali who composed Mahābhāsya is the same person who composed Yogasūtra then it can be said that the Yogasūtra is a work belonging to the 1st-2nd centuries before Vikrama. It too is not certain as to when Vyāsa's Bhāsya on Yogasūtra was composed, but, there is no treat it as having originated earlier than the 3rd century A. V.
Between Yogasūtra and its bhāsya on the one hand and the aphorisms of Tattvārtha and the bhāsya thereon on the other the verbal and conceptual similarity is very close and it is attractive too. Even so, it is not possible to say definitely that either of these is influenced by the other. For the aphorisms of Tattvārtha and the Bhāsya thereon are in possession of the heritage received from the Jaina Āgamic texts that are earlier than Yogadarśana (= Yogasūtra) even; similarly, Yogasūtra and its bhāsya are in possession of the heritage received from the ancient traditions like Sāńkhya, Yoga, Buddhist etc. Nevertheless, there is one discussin in Tattvārtha which is not at present available in the Jaina Anga-texts and is yet available in the bhāsya on Yogasūtra.
1. For a detailed treatment of the question see the Introduction to my Hindi Yogasūtra, pp. 52 ff.