Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes the distinctions of gifting (dana) which is verse 7.39 of the English translation of the Tattvartha Sutra which represents the essentials of Jainism and Jain dharma and deals with the basics on Karma, Cosmology, Ethics, Celestial beings and Liberation. The Tattvarthasutra is authorative among both Digambara and Shvetambara. This is verse 39 of the chapter The Five Vows and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 7.39 - The distinctions of gifting (Բ)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 7.39:
विधिद्रव्यदातृपात्रविशेषात्तद्विशेषः � �.३९ �
ⲹṛpٰśṣātٲ屹śṣa� || 7.39 ||
The effect of giving of the gift�Բ–has distinctions based on the specific manner in which it is given�śṣa, the specific thing given�ⲹśṣa, the specific nature of the giver�ṛvśṣa, and the specific nature of the recipient�ٰśṣa. (39)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्�: [विधिद्रव्यदातृपात्रविशेषात्] विधि, द्रव्य, दातृ और पात्� की विशेषत� से [तद्विशेषः] दा� मे� विशेषत� होती है�
Anvayartha: [vidhidravyadatripatravisheshat] vidhi, dravya, datri aura patra ki visheshata se [tadvisheshah] dana mem visheshata hoti hai |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
Charity (Բ) has been described. Are there any distinctions with regard to the effects of the gift?
The manner is the way in which a guest is received and attended to. The distinction is excellence or superiority due to particular qualities. It is added on to everything–excellence of the manner, excellence of the thing given, superiority of the giver, and superiority of the recipient. Thus, �śṣa� is the distinction in the manner the guest is received and attended to–with reverence or without reverence. The excellence of the thing given�ⲹśṣa–consists in its quality to promote austerity, study, etc. The superiority of the giver�ṛvśṣa–lies in his being free from envy and dejection. The presence of qualities which lead to salvation indicates the superiority of the recipient�ٰśṣa. As excellence in the quality of the soil, etc., enhances the quality of the seed and produces a rich harvest, similarly, excellence in the manner (vidhi), etc., of the gift enhances the quality of the charity (Բ) and produces great merit (ṇy).