Acharanga Sutra unfolds like a finely crafted two-tiered mandala, with a lean, directive core wrapped in a richer, explanatory shell. At heart lies the Sutra–a collection of crisp aphorisms–and surrounding it is the Niryukti, a commentary that teases out every nuance.

• Two main layers
– Sutra (about 2,000 verses)
– Niryukti commentary (roughly 1,600 verses)

Sutra Core: Eleven Discourses
Each of the eleven sections (often called Parv or Nirdesha) opens with a lively dialogue—sometimes a monk’s earnest query, sometimes a king’s probing question—followed by Mahavira’s concise guidance on restraint, non-violence and the monastic ideal. These teachings are laid out in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit, lending an almost musical rhythm.

Typical pattern in each discourse:
1. Setting the scene (royal court, forest grove, assembly of monks)
2. A pointed question (“How should a monk handle anger when insulted?”)
3. Sutra-style answer in brief, imperative form
4. A few illustrative anecdotes or analogies

Niryukti Commentary: Layer by Layer
The Niryukti, attributed to disciples such as Silankara, steps in wherever a Sutra line hints at deeper ethical or metaphysical knots. It supplies context—mythical backdrops, legal precedents, and echoes of older Vedic debates—so that each commandment feels alive rather than relic-dusty.

Later Exegeses and Modern Revival
Over the centuries, regional commentaries (Gujarati, Tamil) have sprung up, much like today’s pop-culture podcasts reviving vinyl records. A recent digital edition, released in 2022 by the Jain Digital Library, even offers side-by-side Ardhamagadhi text and English translation, complete with hyperlinks to contemporary research on non-violence in global peace studies.

This two-fold structure—Sutra plus Niryukti—does more than organize text. It embodies the very Jain commitment to clarity balanced with compassion: speak plainly, then explain patiently, so every seeker can walk the path without stumbling over unanswered questions.