The Kalpa Sūtra is neatly woven into a handful of core sections—each a window into Mahāvīra’s journey or the life‐rules of Jain ascetics:

1. Kṣamāpanā Sūtra (Prologue)
   • Opens with the annual repentance rite at Paryuṣaṇa, where monks and nuns beg forgiveness for any unintentional breaches of discipline.
   • Sets a reflective tone, reminding listeners that every teaching begins with a clean slate.

2. Janma Kalpa (Birth and Early Life)
   • Paints the royal splendour of Vardhamāna’s childhood in Kundagrama.
   • Narrates auspicious omens at his conception and the key episodes leading to renunciation.

3. Dikṣā Kalpa (Renunciation)
   • Tracks Mahāvīra’s dramatic departure from home—shedding princely robes for the cloth of austerity.
   • Describes his six-year tapasya, including struggles under the śramaṇa’s yoke and victories over inner passions.

4. Kevala Jñāna Kalpa (Omniscience)
   • Celebrates the moment of enlightenment under a śramañjīvaka tree, when Vardhamāna becomes Jīnatma, the ‘Conqueror of the Self.’
   • Lays out brief teachings he offers immediately thereafter.

5. Nirvāṇa Kalpa (Final Liberation)
   • Chronicles the last days at Pawapuri—Mahāvīra’s illness, his serene equanimity, and the outpouring of devotion at his mokṣa.
   • Ends with the establishment of the śrāvaka-śrāvikā (lay follower) tradition in his memory.

Interspersed through these biographical Kalpas is a concise monastic code:
- Five Great Vows (ahimsā, satya, asteya, brahmacarya, aparigraha)
- Samitis (careful practices) and Niṣiddhas (occasional rules) to curb negligence
- Pratimās (eleven gradations of lay vows leading toward ascetic life)

During Paryuṣaṇa today, Jain communities still chant passages from each Kalpa, blending ancient manuscript recitations with smartphone apps that debuted at the last World Jain Conference. This timeless text continues to guide both the heart of a monk and the hand of a lay devotee, proving its message of nonviolence and self‐discipline remains as fresh as a morning breeze.