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It gives me great pleasure, indeed, in publishing the English translation of Pt. Sukhlalji's Commentary on Umāsvāti's Tattvārthasūtra on the auspicious occasion of 2500th year on Nirvana of Lord Mahāvīra whose teachings were, probably for the first time, epitomised in Sanskrit by Umāsvāti.
FOREWORD (To the First Edition)
Umāsväti's Tattvärthasūtra has attracted the attention of the prominent Jaina Acaryas from the date of its composition (4th-5th Century) upto the modern times. This is the reason why numerous commentaries have been written on it in different periods of time. Hence these commentaries clearly reflect the development of Jaina philosophy through all these periods of time. In order to introduce the students to this vast literature Pt. Sukhlalji had written a commentary both in Hindi and Gujarati. The commentary in Gujarati was published in A. D. 1930, and the same in Hindi was published in V. S. 1996 (A. D. 1939). This Commentary in Gujarati and Hindi has run into many editions. But the English translation of this Commentary is being published here by us for the first time. And the credit of this has to go to Dr. K. K. Dixit. It is he who translated the work and wrote a brilliant preface entitled 'TattvārthasūtraA Historical Evaluation'. Through this English translation the Englishknowing readers will have a glimpse into the deep learning and patient work of Pt. Sukhlalji.
Pt. Sukhlalji has made corrections, additions and subtractions in all the previous editions of the commentary and in the Introduction whenever he found it necessary, and in this present edition (in English) too he has made some corrections, additions and alterations. Thus in this English translation we have his final views about the author and other allied subjects.
I am most thankful to Pt. Sukhlalji for agreeing to the publication of the English translation of his Commentary on the Tattvärthasūtra. Even at the age of 94 he was ready to revise his views. This is something very
rare.
The Jñānodaya Trust established by Pt. Sukhlalji has donated Rs. 6,000/- for the publication of this work. For this I am grateful to the Trust. Our thanks are due to Dr. Jesalpura of Swati Printing Press for bringing out the book within a short period of time.
This translation will be of great benefit to the students of Jaina philosophy and religion; and it may even serve as a handbook of Jainism in many respects.
L. D. Institute of Indology
Ahmedabad-380009
15th June, 1974.
Jain Education International
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Dalsukh Malvania
Director
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