तत्त्वार्थ सूत्र (मोक्षशास्त्र - संस्कृत सूत्र एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

अध्याय - १०
the annihilation of all karmas is liberation¹.
¹ The reader’s attention is drawn to the distinction between the
two stages represented by the ‘Arhat’ and the ‘Siddha’. The
attainment of omniscience is described in the first sutra of this
chapter, and the attainment of complete liberation in the second.
Omniscience is attained on the destruction of the deluding, the
knowledge-obscuring, the perception-obscuring and the obstructive
karmas, in the order mentioned in the first sutra. As long as the
deluding karmas are very powerful, spiritual progress is very slow
if not impossible. In that condition the self is almost a slave to the
karmic forces at work and is tossed to and fro in the ocean of
transmigration. The secret of spiritual progress lies in the
ascendancy acquired with great difficulty and effort by the self
over the deluding karmas. Only then does the self become the
master of evil and begin to succeed in overcoming evil. It is no
doubt a tough fight between the self and evil, and there may be ups
and downs in this long and arduous struggle. But the undaunted
and unconquerable soul carries on the battle incessantly, gradually
establishes ascendancy over the forces of evil, ultimately roots out
evil with the help of pure concentration and becomes the Victor.
This epic story of the struggles of the soul with the forces of evil
may be read with absorbing interest in the several masterpieces of
Jaina literature in Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada and other Indian
languages. These four – the deluding, knowledge-obscuring,
perception-obscuring and obstructive karmas – are called
destructive (ghāti) karmas, as these four main types of karmas
interfere with the four infinitudes described in the fourth sutra,
which are the essential characteristics of the soul. The other four
main types are called non-destructive (aghāti) karmas, as these do
not harm these four infinitudes. The self attaining omniscience
becomes an Arhat, and the self attaining complete release a
Siddha. There may be a longer or a shorter interval between the
attainment of these two stages. That depends upon the lifetime
still remaining on the manifestation of omniscience. And this may
vary from soul to soul. Till the time of complete release, the Arhat
is associated with the body. When the other four types of karmas
are entirely destroyed, the released pure soul (Siddha) goes up to
the summit of the universe and dwells there in eternal bliss.
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