The Five Vows (व्रत)

हिंसाऽनृतस्तेयाब्रह्मपरिग्रहेभ्यो विरतिर्व्रतम् ॥१॥

Desisting from injury (violence), falsehood, stealing, unchastity, and attachment is the fivefold Vrata — vow.

A "Vrata" is a promise or commitment you make to yourself. In Jainism, there are five main areas where we make these promises: not hurting others (Non-violence), not lying (Truth), not taking what isn't ours (Non-stealing), controlling our sexual desires (Chastity), and not being obsessed with stuff (Non-attachment). These five are the foundation of a good life.

देशसर्वतोऽणुमहती ॥२॥

The vow is of two kinds: Anuvrata — partial and Mahavrata — total.

Everyone is at a different stage in their life. Some people, like monks and nuns, take the "Great Vows" (Mahavrata), which are 100% commitments. Others, who live regular lives, take "Small Vows" (Anuvrata). These are partial commitments that fit a normal life but still keep you on the right path. It's like the difference between a pro athlete and someone who just goes to the gym to stay healthy.

तत्स्थैर्यार्थं भावनाः पञ्च पञ्च ॥३॥

For the sake of stabilizing these vows, there are five Bhavanas — observances for each.

Making a promise is easy, but keeping it is hard. To help us keep our vows strong, there are five helpful "mindsets" or "habits" (Bhavanas) for each of the five vows. These are like training exercises that keep our spiritual muscles strong so we don't slip up when things get difficult.

वाङ्मनोगुप्तीर्यादाननिक्षेपणसमित्यालोकितपानभोजनानि पञ्च ॥४॥

Control of speech, control of thought, care in walking, care in handling objects, and examining food/drink in light are the five observances of Ahimsa — Non-violence.

To be truly non-violent, you have to be mindful. This means watching what you say so you don't hurt feelings, watching your thoughts so you don't stay angry, walking carefully so you don't step on bugs, being gentle with objects, and checking your food so you don't accidentally hurt any tiny living beings. Non-violence is a full-time job of being aware.

क्रोधलोभभीरुत्वहास्यप्रत्याख्यानान्यनुवीचिभाषणं च पञ्च ॥५॥

Giving up anger, greed, fear, and jest, and speaking words according to the scriptures are the five observances of Satya — Truth.

Why do we lie? Usually because we are angry, greedy, or scared. Or sometimes we lie just as a "joke." To be a truthful person, you have to let go of these four emotions. You also practice speaking only what is helpful and meaningful, based on wisdom. Truth isn't just about the facts; it's about the heart behind the words.

शून्यागारविमोचितावासपरोपरोधाकरणभैक्षशुद्धिसधर्माविसंवादाः पञ्च ॥६॥

Staying in solitary places, deserted buildings, not blocking others, accepting clean food, and not arguing with peers are the five observances of Achaurya — Non-stealing.

For an ascetic, "stealing" includes even staying in a place without permission. By living simply and in places that don't belong to others, and by not fighting over possessions or space, you ensure that you never take anything that wasn't freely given to you. It's about respecting the boundaries and property of every other person.

स्त्रीरागकथाश्रवणतन्मनोहराङ्गनिरीक्षणपूर्वरतानुस्मरणवृष्येष्टरसस्वशरीरसंस्कारत्यागाः पञ्च ॥७॥

Avoiding suggestive stories, not staring at attractive bodies, not dwelling on past pleasures, avoiding spicy/stimulating foods, and not over-decorating the body are the five observances of Brahmacarya — Chastity.

This vow is about focus. If you want to keep your mind on spiritual growth, you have to avoid things that trigger your physical desires. This means being careful about what you watch, what you listen to, and even what you eat. If you don't feed the fire of desire, it eventually becomes a calm, steady light of awareness.

मनोज्ञामनोज्ञेन्द्रियविषयरागद्वेषवर्जनानि पञ्च ॥८॥

Letting go of extreme liking for pleasant things and extreme dislike for unpleasant things are the five observances of Aparigraha — Non-attachment.

Attachment isn't just about having things; it's about how much you WANT them or HATE them. If you love a delicious meal too much, or hate a loud noise too much, you are "attached" to those feelings. True non-attachment means staying calm and balanced, no matter what your senses are telling you. You use things, but you don't let them own you.

हिंसादिष्विहामुत्रापायावद्यदर्शनम् ॥९॥

One should think about the troubles and the bad reputation that come from violence and lying, both now and in the future.

If you're tempted to break a vow, think about the consequences. Hurting others or lying might seem easy now, but it leads to pain, loss of trust, and a heavy soul later. By picturing the bad results before they happen, you can find the strength to stay on the right path.

दुःखमेव वा ॥१०॥

Or, simply think that these negative acts are the root of all suffering.

Every bit of sadness in the world eventually comes from someone breaking these five principles. If you realize that violence and greed are the literal CAUSE of all pain, you won't want anything to do with them. It's like realizing that fire burns — once you know it, you naturally stay away from it.

मैत्रीप्रमोदकारुण्यमाध्यस्थ्यानि च सत्त्वगुणाधिकक्लिश्यमानाविनयेषु ॥११॥

Practice friendship with all, joy for the virtuous, compassion for the suffering, and equanimity toward the difficult.

This is the "Four Infinite" mindset. Be a friend to everyone. Be happy when you see someone else doing well. Have a soft heart for those who are struggling. And for those who are mean or difficult? Just stay calm and "neutral" (equanimity). Don't let their negativity pull you in. This mindset makes it easy to keep all your vows.

जगत्कायस्वभावौ वा संवेगवैराग्यार्थम् ॥१२॥

Think about the nature of the world and the body to find spiritual focus and detachment.

The world is constantly changing, and our bodies don't last forever. If you really understand this, you won't get so upset about small things or so attached to physical stuff. This "big picture" view helps you focus on what really matters — the growth of your soul.

प्रमत्तयोगात्प्राणव्यपरोपणं हिंसा ॥१३॥

The hurting of life-forces because of careless or passionate activity is Himsa — Violence.

Violence isn't just about hitting someone. It's any time you hurt a living being because you were being careless or were blinded by emotions like anger. Even if you didn't "mean" to, being "un-mindful" is a form of violence in Jainism. We have a responsibility to be awake and careful.

असदभिधानमनृतम् ॥१४॥

Speaking what is not true or not commendable is Anrta — Untruth.

An untruth is more than just a lie. It's saying anything that isn't helpful, kind, or accurate. If you speak words that cause harm or confusion, you are breaking the vow of truth. Truth should always be "Hita" (beneficial), "Mita" (measured), and "Priya" (pleasant).

अदत्तादानं स्तेयम् ॥१५॥

Taking what is not given is Steya — Stealing.

This is very clear. If it wasn't given to you freely, don't touch it. This applies to physical objects, but also to ideas, time, and space. If you take something without permission, you are creating a debt of karma that will have to be paid back later.

मैथुनमब्रह्म ॥१६॥

Sexual indulgence is Abrahma — Unchastity.

For an ascetic, this means staying completely away from all sexual activity. For a householder, it means being faithful to your partner. The goal is to not let sexual desire dominate your life or distract you from your higher purpose.

मूर्च्छा परिग्रहः ॥१७॥

Infatuation or obsession with things is Parigraha — Attachment.

This is a brilliant definition. Attachment isn't the OBJECT itself; it's the "Murcha" — the fog or obsession in your mind about the object. If you have a hundred things but don't care about them, you have less attachment than someone who has one thing but is obsessed with it. It's a mental state, not a count of items.

निःशल्यो व्रती ॥१८॥

One who is free from the three Shalya — stings is a true Votary.

To be a real "Vrati" (someone who follows vows), you have to pull out three "stings" from your heart: deceit (lying to yourself), desire for future rewards (doing good just for fame), and wrong belief (not seeing reality as it is). If these stings are still there, your vows are just an act.

अगार्यनगारश्च ॥१९॥

Votaries are of two types: the householder and the homeless ascetic.

There are two ways to walk this path. You can be an "Agari" (someone with a home and a family) or an "Anagara" (someone who has left home to focus 100% on liberation). Both are valid, they just have different levels of commitment based on their lifestyle.

अणुव्रतोऽगारी ॥२०॥

The householder follows the small vows — Anuvrata.

Since householders have jobs and families, they follow the "Anuvratas." These are sensible, practical versions of the five vows. For example, instead of total non-violence (which is impossible if you cook food or walk to work), they commit to never hurting any intentional living being on purpose.

दिग्देशानर्थदण्डविरतिसामायिकप्रोषधोपवासोपभोगपरिभोगपरिमाणातिथिसंविभागव्रतशीलानि च ॥२१॥

The householder also observes the seven supplementary vows to limit their impact on the world.

Beyond the five main vows, there are seven more that help a householder live a disciplined life. These include limiting how far you travel, not doing harmful things for "fun," practicing meditation (Samayika), and sharing your resources with guests and those in need. These vows help keep your life simple and focused.

मारणान्तिकीं सल्लेखनां जोषिता ॥२२॥

A votary should also peacefully welcome the ritual death — Sallekhana at the end of life.

When the body is failing and death is near, a Jain votary can choose "Sallekhana." This isn't suicide; it's a peaceful, conscious way of letting go of the body through fasting and meditation. It's about dying with dignity and a clear mind, rather than in fear or attachment.

शङ्काकाङ्क्षाविचिकित्सान्यदृष्टिप्रशंसासंस्तवाः सम्यग्दृष्टेरतिचाराः ॥२३॥

The slips of Right Faith: doubt, wanting worldly rewards, feeling disgusted by the truth, and praising wrong paths.

Even before the vows, your "Right Faith" can slip. This happens if you start doubting the truth, or if you only practice religion because you want to get rich or famous. Keep your faith pure and focused on the growth of your soul, not on what you can "get" from it.

व्रतशीलेषु पञ्च पञ्च ॥२४॥

There are five slips each for the five vows and the supplementary vows.

Just as there were five training habits to keep vows strong, there are also five common "banana peels" or slips for each vow. Knowing these helps us stay alert so we don't accidentally fall off the path. Mindfulness is like keeping your eyes on the ground while you walk.

बन्धवधच्छेदातिभारारोपणान्नपाननिरोधाः ॥२५॥

Slips of Non-violence: tying up, beating, hurting limbs, overloading, and withholding food/drink.

These are five ways we "slip" into violence, especially against animals or workers. Binding them too tight, hitting them, making them carry too much weight, or forgetting to feed them — these are all forms of violence that we must avoid if we want to be truly compassionate.

मिथ्योपदेशरहोभ्याख्यानकूटलेखक्रियान्यासापहारसाकारमन्त्रभेदाः ॥२६॥

Slips of Truth: giving bad advice, revealing secrets, forgery, and cheating others.

Truth isn't just about not telling a "direct" lie. It's also about not giving advice you know is wrong, not blabbing someone's private secrets, not faking documents, and not trying to cheat someone out of what is theirs. All these "indirect" lies also count as breaking the vow of truth.

स्तेनप्रयोगतदाहृतादानविरुद्धराज्यातिक्रमहीनाधिकमानोन्मानप्रतिरूपकव्यवहाराः ॥२७॥

Slips of Non-stealing: encouraging theft, buying stolen goods, breaking laws, using fake weights, and selling low-quality stuff as high-quality.

You might not be a "bank robber," but are you using fake scales in your shop? Are you buying things you know were stolen? Are you breaking rules to get an advantage? These are all "business slips" that count as stealing in the Jain world. Honesty in business is a key part of the path.

परविवाहकरणेत्वरिकापरिगृहीतापरिगृहीतागमनानङ्गक्रीडाकामतीव्राभिनिवेशाः ॥२८॥

Slips of Chastity: arranging others' marriages for lust, associating with unchaste people, and intense sexual desire.

Even if you follow your own rules, helping others break theirs or letting your mind stay obsessed with physical pleasure is a slip. The goal is to keep the energy of the soul focused upward, not trapped in the temporary highs of physical desire.

क्षेत्रवास्तुहिरण्यसुवर्णधनधान्यदासीदासकुप्यप्रमाणातिक्रमाः ॥२९॥

Slips of Non-attachment: exceeding the limits you set for land, gold, money, and clothes.

A householder sets a "limit" for how much they will own. A slip happens when you find excuses to go over that limit. "Oh, I just need one more house," or "I'll just keep a bit more gold than I planned." Breaking your own limit is a sign that attachment is still controlling your mind.

ऊर्ध्वधस्तिर्यग्व्यतिक्रमक्षेत्रवृद्धिस्मृत्यन्तराधानानि ॥३०॥

Slips of travel limits: going higher, lower, or further than your limit, and forgetting your boundaries.

If you've promised to only travel within a certain area to keep your life simple, "slipping" means sneaking past those boundaries or just being "forgetful" about where they are. Integrity means sticking to the limits you set for yourself, even when no one is watching.

आनयनप्रेष्यप्रयोगशब्दरूपानुपपातपुद्गलक्षेपाः ॥३१॥

Slips of specific area limits: ordering things from outside, sending messages, or making signals to get things from beyond your limit.

This is a "modern" warning! Even if your body stays inside your limit, if you are constantly ordering stuff from far away or sending others to do your dirty work outside your boundary, you are breaking the spirit of the vow. It's about being content with what is right in front of you.

कन्दर्पकौत्कुच्यमौखर्याशस्त्रीयप्रसाधनप्रयोजनार्थातिचाराः ॥३२॥

Slips of unbeneficial activity: mocking others, gossiping, talking too much, and keeping dangerous tools without a reason.

These are "lifestyle slips." Being a "troll," making fun of people, or just blabbing about nothing for hours wastes your soul's energy. Also, keeping things that only cause harm (like weapons) without a real need attracts negative vibes. Keep your environment and your conversation clean.

मनोवाक्कायदुष्प्रणिधानानादरस्मृत्यनुपस्थानानि ॥३३॥

Slips of meditation: bad thoughts, bad words, physical restlessness, lack of interest, and forgetting the meditation.

When you sit for Samayika (meditation), don't just "be there" physically. If your mind is racing with bad thoughts or you're just bored and waiting for it to end, that's a slip. Real meditation requires your heart to be present and your mind to be focused on peace.

अप्रत्यवेक्षिताप्रमार्जितोत्सर्गनिक्षेपादानसंस्तरोपक्रमोन्मर्यादाविस्मरणानि ॥३४॥

Slips of fasting: being careless with objects, lack of enthusiasm, and forgetting the rules of the fast.

Fasting (Proshadha) is more than just not eating. It's a day of total mindfulness. If you're throwing things around carelessly or just being lazy and grumpy because you're hungry, you're missing the point. The fast is meant to make you more awake, not more annoyed.

सचित्तसम्बद्धसम्मिश्राभिषवदुःपक्वभक्षणाः ॥३५॥

Slips of diet limits: eating food with living organisms, eating items connected to living things, or eating poorly cooked food.

This is about being careful with what you put in your body. In Jainism, we try to avoid food that causes unnecessary harm. Slipping means being lazy about checking your food or eating things you know are questionable just because they taste good. Your diet is a reflection of your compassion.

सचित्तनिक्षेपपिधानपरव्यपदेशमात्सर्यकालातिक्रमाः ॥३६॥

Slips of sharing: putting food on a living leaf, covering it with living things, being jealous of other givers, or giving at the wrong time.

Sharing food with monks or the needy should be done with total respect. Using "living" items like fresh leaves as plates (which hurts the plant) or being jealous that someone else gave more than you turns a good act into a "slip." Give with a clean, happy heart.

जीवितमरणाशंसासुहृदनुरागसुखानुबन्धनिदानकरणानि ॥३७॥

Slips of the peaceful ritual death: wanting to live longer, wanting to die faster, remembering friends too much, or wanting to be born rich in the next life.

When practicing Sallekhana (the final fast), the goal is total peace. If you're constantly wishing for the end or dreaming about being a king in your next life, you're not actually "letting go." You should be like a calm lake — no ripples of desire for the past or the future.

अनुग्रहार्थं स्वस्यातिसर्गो दानम् ॥३८॥

Dana — Charity is the giving of one's belongings for the sake of mutual benefit.

Charity in Jainism isn't just about "helping the poor." It's a spiritual exchange. When you give, you help the recipient, but you also help yourself by breaking your attachment to your stuff. It's an act of "Anugraha" — mutual benefit where both people grow spiritually through the act of giving.

विधिद्रव्यदातृपात्रविशेषात्तद्विशेषः ॥३९॥

The merit of charity depends on the way you give, what you give, who you are, and who is receiving.

The "value" of a gift isn't its price tag. It's the whole context: how respectful you were when giving, whether the item was actually useful, the purity of your heart, and the character of the person receiving it. A small, simple gift given with total love and respect is worth more than a million dollars given with arrogance.