________________
56
Jaina Philosophy and Religion riches as also in the excessive and even perverse enjoyment of sensual pleasures, there is, on the other hand, a deep dark valley of poverty engulfing the vast population of the country. In this terrible disparity, life forces of the people get dried up and even the independent and free country gets ruined. If all observe proper equanimity and restraint in the use of things, all the struggles for the means of livelihood will end, and strifes and tensions will be removed, all the disparity will disappear and all-encompassing equality will arise. And, as a result, lives of all will be permeated with joy and happiness. The objective of this vow is to make all happy and to divert them to the path of humanity-of course, its leaning towards spiritual welfare is quite evident.
Vow to Abstain from Purposeless Harmful Activities (Anarthadanḍaviramaņa)
In Sanskrit, this vow is called anarthadandavirati. The term 'anartha' means purposeless, aimless, unnecessary, etc. And the term 'danda' means harmful, bad, evil activities. Thus, the term 'anarthadanda' means unnecessary and purposeless harmful activities. And refraining from such activities is anarthadaṇḍavirati. A householder cannot avoid those acts of violence which are connected with his ordinary daily activities, nor can he avoid violence which is involved in agriculture, business or industry; again, on some special occasion in self-defence or to save others he has to kill the violent attacker. For him it is necessary to undertake proper activities to earn money for the maintenance of his family as also for accumulating some possessions. Thus, his life is full of unvirtuous activities. Yet the observance of the already mentioned five minor-scale vows as also of the other supporting ones constitutes the path of liberation. Taking into account the unvirtuous activities which are invariably and inevitably associated with the householder's life or which have to be performed to fulfil his duties as a householder or which are occasional but necessary, the Jaina thinkers have wisely advised through the present vow that one should not do unnecessary and purposeless harmful activities. This is the essence of the vow. But what are the unvirtuous activities that could be regarded as unnecessary and purposeless? To answer the question is difficult. Is it not easy to prove one's unnecessary and purposeless unvirtuous activity necessary and purposeful? So, how can it be possible to pinpoint certain unvirtuous activities as unnecessary and purposeless when the life itself is full of struggles and passions? Therefore, the Jaina
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
