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CHAPTER SEVEN
As causes-of-bondage for the sātāvedaniya karma compassion for those leading a disciplined life (Sanskrit-Vratins) and donation—these two features have been enumerated. Now with a view to offering a particular elucidation of the same a detailed account is being presented in this chapter relating to vratas or disciplinary vows and donation, both occupying an important place in the Jaina tradition.
The Nature of Vrata :
To refrain-through manas, speech and body-from violence, untruth, theft, sexual intercourse, and attachment-forpossession—that is called vrata. 1.
The nature of the moral defilements like violence, untruth etc., will be described in the sequel. To understand the nature of the defilments, to take a vow to renounce them, and then not to resort to them—that precisely is vrata.
Since non-violence is chief of all the vratas is comes first of all. Just as fence is meant for the protection of a field, so also are the remaining vratas meant for the protection of non-violence; hence it is that the greatest importance is attached to nonviolence.
Refrainment and a positive activity—these are two aspects of a vrata; when both these aspects are present there then alone is a vrata complete. To be engaged in a virtuous activity means a prior refrainment from the evil activities that are its opposite; formulation to this effect follows as a matter of course. Similarly, refrainment from an evil activity means engagement-through
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