Uttaradhyayansutra mein Pratipadit Karma‑Mimansa

Summary

This Hindi article explores the doctrine of karma as presented in the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, one of the major canonical texts of the Śvetāmbara Jain tradition. The author begins by outlining the overarching structure of the Uttarādhyayana, which comprises discourses attributed to Mahavira and deals with ethics, cosmology and soteriology. He then focuses on chapters that systematically discuss karma (kamma) and its implications for the soul’s bondage and liberation. The Jain concept of karma differs from the abstract notion of moral law found in other Indian religions; in Jainism, karmas are considered fine particles of matter that attach to the soul through activities influenced by passions such as anger, pride, deceit and greed. The article explains how Uttarādhyayana categorises karmas into eight principal types—knowledge‑obscuring, perception‑obscuring, feeling‑producing, deluding, lifespan‑determining, body‑determining, status‑determining and obstructing—which are further subdivided. It analyses verses that describe how each type binds the soul, the factors determining the duration and intensity of bondage, and the specific causes that lead to accumulation. The author also examines the stages of karma fruition and the processes of samvara (stoppage of new karmic influx) and nirjarā (shedding of existing karma). The text emphasises austerities (tapas), right faith, right knowledge and right conduct (samyakdarshana, samyakjnana, samyakcaritra) as essential for karma elimination. Through commentary and examples, the article demonstrates how the Uttarādhyayana encourages practitioners to cultivate equanimity, compassion and self‑discipline to prevent passions that attract karmic particles. The study further compares the Karma‑Mimansa (analysis of karma) in Uttarādhyayana with discussions in other Jain scriptures like the Tattvartha Sutra and Samayasara, highlighting similarities and unique emphases. It notes that Uttarādhyayana employs accessible language and narrative dialogues, making complex philosophical ideas comprehensible to lay followers. The author concludes that the text serves as both a spiritual guide and a psychological treatise, illustrating the causal relationship between thoughts, actions and their karmic consequences.