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Chapter VII The Five Vows
fgd K. ur&lrs kcấ&i fj xgki; ks foj frore. VII. 1 Hims (a)nsta-stey brahma-parigrahebhyo viratirvratam
VFk% Meaning:
fgd k) vl R;] pkj h] vcă vkg i fjxg Isfoj Dr gkuk ‘orgA Desisting from injury, falsehood, stealing, un-chastity and attachment is the (fivefold) vow.
Q. VII.1.1 A.VII.1.1
What is meant by violence (hims )? Severance of vitalities (pr nas) of self or others is violence.
Q.VII.1.2 A.VII.1.2
What is meant by untruth (asatya)? What is not true is untruth.
Q.VII.1.3 A.VII.1.3
What is meant by stealing (cori)? To take things which are not voluntarily given by others is stealing.
What is meant by un-chastity (abrhma)? Disposition with lust is un-chastity.
A. VII.1.4
Q.VII.1.5 A.VII.1.5
What is meant by possessions (parigraha)? To acquire from all directions is possession. It also means having a feeling of mine in others objects.
Q.VII.1.6 A.VII.1.6
What is meant by vow (vrata)? Abstinence from injury, falsehood, stealing, un-chastity and attachment is called vow.
Q.VII.1.7
A. VII.1.7
Why is ahims (non-violence / injury) kept as the first vow out of the five vows? Non-violence is mentioned first as it is the primary or most important vow. Just as the surrounding fence protects the cereals in the field, similarly non-violence safeguards the truth etc.
Q.VII.1.8
A.VII.1.8
Vows are a cause of stoppage of influx (as they are included in the ten kinds of moral virtues 'dasa laksana'). Why are they mentioned here as the cause of influx here? There is no contradiction in mentioning vows at both places. Vows are the causes of stoppage (or abstinence) in nature. Stoppage of influx itself is 'giving-up of worldly pursuits' by nature. Vows are accepted for observance after giving up sins like violence etc. Indulgence in the sins is the cause of influx and so they are mentioned here as cause of influx also.
Q.VII.1.9 A.VII.1.9
What is the purpose of describing these vows by the preceptors? The purpose is to describe the path of spiritual purification so that the living beings can attain liberation from the cycle of transgression.
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