“Tātparya-vrtti” of Padmaprabha Maladhārideva and Jain Ethics

This publication presents the first translation into European language of only Sanskrit commentary Tātparya-vrŠ tti almost unknown Digambara exegete Padmaprabha Maladhārideva (12th century) on chapter-adhikāra treatise Niyama-sāra (“Essence Restraint”) by Kundakunda (3rd–4th centuries), who is one most authoritative Jain authors. The chapter introduces problems text and gives a general idea “Three Jewels” Jainism: right vision, knowledge behavior, latter which main theme text. preceded an Introduction to ethical doctrine Jainism, considered author article as variants virtue ethics. ontology, being descriptive part Doctrine, complemented prescriptive one, includes extensive system vows (both “great” “small”, basic additional) restrictions for all members community, built basis prohibition violence against kinds living beings. observance in ethics logically integrated Path Liberation soul-ātman from wheel rebirth marked various steps ladder spiritual self-improvement. In proficiently shows connection between ontology ethics, skillfully weaving verses his own composition exegesis demonstrating deep not philosophical tradition, but also fluency verse meters according hermeneutical tasks facing him.