So many granths don’t have detailed explanations in them and say it’s not clear due to passage of time does that mean there can be translation error in what we know and what actually is
Answer
Yes, it can happen that a passage has some uncertainty in meaning, and that a translation or interpretation may differ from what the original intended.Explanation
In Jain tradition, many granths are very concise, old, and composed in languages or styles that are not always easy to understand today. Over time:- manuscripts may have been copied many times,
- words may have changed in meaning,
- some explanatory tradition may have been lost,
- different scholars may read the same line differently.
So there can be:
- translation differences — how a word or verse is rendered into another language,
- interpretation differences — what the verse is understood to mean,
- textual differences — slight variations between manuscript versions.
This does not necessarily mean the whole teaching is unreliable. It usually means that some parts require careful study with:
- traditional commentaries,
- guru guidance,
- comparison with other Jain texts,
- and the principle of context.
Spiritual Understanding
Jain Dharma itself values anekantavada — the understanding that truth can be seen from more than one valid angle. Because of this, Jain tradition is naturally humble about fixed claims when a passage is unclear.So when a text is difficult, the right approach is not blind certainty, but:
- careful reading,
- respect for tradition,
- and openness to multiple legitimate meanings where the text allows it.
This is also why Jain scholars often distinguish between:
- what is clearly established,
- what is traditionally understood,
- and what is still uncertain.