Today's Vedika insight
31 August 2026 · Umāsvāti/Umāsvāmi, Tattvārtha Sūtra 5.21
परस्परोपग्रहो जीवानाम् ॥ ५.२१ ॥
parasparopagraho jīvānām || 5.21 ||
“Mutual support is the function of living beings.”
Vedika literal rendering, checked against the Sanskrit sūtra and Jain commentary.
“Jain thought names mutual support as a defining function of living beings, making dependence something to recognise responsibly rather than hide.”
Umāsvāti/Umāsvāmi, Tattvārtha Sūtra 5.21
Vedika commentary
Independence is always partial. Food, language, care, labour and knowledge arrive through networks of living beings. Seeing these supports clearly can deepen gratitude and responsibility, especially toward contributors whose work is easy to overlook.
Vedika distinguishes the original Sanskrit, a literal rendering, and an interpretive paraphrase so that the words of the text are never confused with explanation.
Source
Umāsvāti/Umāsvāmi, Tattvārtha Sūtra 5.21
Traditional commentary
Tattvārtha Sūtra 5.21; Jain commentarial traditions, with Digambara and Śvetāmbara differences preserved
Explanation
Vedika
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