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COMPENDIUM OF JAINISM
of thought but also pains the person who is deprived of his property. Theft, if detected, may lead to punishment by imprisonment. In taking what belongs to another, there is pramatta-yoga or operation of activity aroused by some passion. The desire to possess some other's property without his consent or knowledge involves spiritual denigration of the self. A householder should not take water from private wells unless the permission of the owner is taken. No such difficulty arises in the case of public wells and roads which are dedicated to the public for use.21 Somadeva adds that those who take the vow of nonstealing must not take anything belonging to others whether in a house or in the street or on water or in the woods or on the hills. Mines and hidden treasures belong to the king, though they may be of unknown ownership.22 This view is consistent with modern law in our country.
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As in the case of other vows, there are five kinds of transgressions (aticăras) in the case of theft also. One may not himself commit theft but if he instigates another to commit theft or shows him the way of committing theft, when he is guilty of abetment of theft (cauraprayoga). Receiving stolen property is another kind of transgression (caurārthadāna). The third kind of transgression known as Vilopa is when a person resorts to under-hand dealings for getting a thing in contravention of rules of control and restrictions which the state might have imposed. Adulteration (sadṛśasammiśra) is mixing of material of lower value with other material of higher value identical in colour or substance for sale with the motive of unlawful gain like mixing dalda with ghee or fat with butter etc. The fifth kind of aticăra refers to the use of false weights and measures (hinādhikavinimāna), as for example using heavier weight for purchasing articles from others and using lighter weights for sale of one's own commodities.23
The vow of acaurya would not be perfect or honest unless a dealer studiously refrains from resorting to such dubious tactics. Now a days, adulteration has become so common that it is not possible to get any article of food or medicine without adultera
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