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ETHICAL DOCTRINES IN JAINISM
with the improper pronouncement of scriptural meaning. The five kinds of longings that strengthen the vow of truthfulness are recognised as thoughtfulness in speech and as restraining from anger, greed, fear, and joking.
3) ASTEYA-MAHĀVRATA: This Mahāvrata consists in renouncing all forms of stealing already referred to in the previous chapter. To express it differently, the renouncement of the possession of all “Para Dravyas' lying either in a village or in a town or in a wood without their being offered comes within the purview of Asteya-mahāvrata. The perfection of this vow consists in getting books etc., after one has asked one's superiors, in seeking the permission for certain necessary things from the possessor, in denying all attachment to things taken, in allowing oneself to accept faultless articles, and in handling things of co-religionists according to the prescribed rules. According to the Acārānga, it is brought out by restricting to limited alms, seeking the permission of the superiors before consuming food and drink, taking possession of limited part of a ground for a fixed time, renewing the permission, and begging for a limited ground for one's co-religionist. According to the Tattvārthasūtra, it consists in staying in the deserted places of abode, and secluded places like caves etc., in not denying other persons intending to stay, in maintaining purity of food, and in not developing the habit of quarrelsomeness.
4) BRAHMACARYA-MAHĀVRATA: This fourth great vow prescribes avoidance of sexual intercourse with the four kinds of females?— human, animal, celestial, and artificial-along with the denial of seeking sexual gratification in unnatural ways. The adherent of the Brahmacaryamahāvrata ought to renounce the following also for the purpose of facilitating the observance of the vow: Bodily make up, sense indulgence, use of passion-exciting food articles, taking of excessive food, attending to songs and dance, association with woman, exciting residence, passionate thinking about a woman, seeing the sexual organs, holding
1 Mülā. 6, 290; Acārā. p. 204. 2 Ta.sū. VII. 5; Anagā. Dharmā. IV. 45; Ācārā. pp. 204, 205; Ca. Pā. 33; Bhaga.
Arā. 1207. 3 Müla. 7, 291; Acārā. p. 205; Bhaga. Arā. 953. 4 Mülā. 339. 5 Ācārā. pp. 206, 207. Sarvārtha. VII. 6; Cā. Pā. 34. 7 Mūla. 292; Ācārā. II. 15-IV.
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