Tattvārtha Sūtraतत्त्वार्थसूत्र
The whole of Jain teaching in brief. 2 passages in the chapters come from it.
- What it is
- About 350 aphorisms in 10 chapters
- Composed
- Between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE
- By
- Umāsvāti, called Umāsvāmin by Digambaras
- References on this site
- Chapter.aphorism. The Śvetāmbara and Digambara versions number some aphorisms differently, so a reference can be a little out between editions.
The first Jain text in Sanskrit, and the one text both main Jain traditions, Śvetāmbara and Digambara, accept. It sets out the categories of reality, the soul and matter, how karma binds, and the path of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Its line “parasparopagraho jīvānām”, living beings support one another, is the motto on the Jain emblem today.
Read it in full
Translations in print
- Nathmal Tatia, That Which Is: Tattvārtha Sūtra (HarperCollins, 1994)
Names with marks such as ā, ṣ or ṛ are explained in how to read the names and terms.
The 2 passages the chapters quote
- My viewUnit 2 · Human Resource Management
Two true accounts of one firm and many aspects, one thing
Read it in its chapter“(Opposed descriptions of a thing) are established through the aspect that is brought into view and the aspect that is not.” अर्पितानर्पितसिद्धेः । arpitānarpitasiddheḥ. Tattvārthasūtra 5.32 (Digambara text)
- My viewUnit 7 · Distribution and Supply Chains
Supply chain partnership and living beings support one another
Read it in its chapter“Living beings render service to one another.” परस्परोपग्रहो जीवानाम् । parasparopagraho jīvānām. Umāsvāti, Tattvārtha Sūtra 5.21
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Veda Verse. “Tattvārtha Sūtra: what it is, and the passages we quote.” Last modified October 25, 2026. https://myvedaverse.in/learn/texts/tattvartha-sutra.
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