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SMALL VOWS OF THE HOUSEHOLDER
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holder. And the layman, who leaves his home and lives in the woods for some reason, would become houseless, though he is not free from desires. But it is not so. What is intended is the psychical factor regarding home. Owing to the rise of conductdeluding karmas, a person's thoughts are not turned away from home. This is called the psychical home. He who has it is a householder, even if he lives in a forest. The ascetic is free from such thoughts, and so he is homeless whether living in a habitation or in the woods. Again, it is argued that the householder cannot be a votary, as he observes vows only partially. But it is not so. The householder also is a votary from certain points of view. Though a man lives in his home or remains in his bed-chamber, we say he lives in the town. So even a person observing partial vows is called a votary from certain points of view (naigama, samgraha and vyavahara nayas).
Does partial observance mean the observance of one or two of the five vows? No, it is not so. If so what is it? It is the observance of all the five vows imperfectly.
अणुव्रतोऽगारी Anuvrato agāri
20. One who observes the small vows is a householder. The word 'anu' indicates smallness. He who observes small vows is called a householder. Why are his vows called small? It is because he is unable to desist from all sins completely. If so what does he desist from? The first small vow of noninjury is to avoid injury to beings with two or more senses. Owing to attachment or delusion, the householder refrains from uttering falsehood, which may lead to the destruction of his home or his village. This is the second small vow of speaking the truth. Desisting from desire of things which are not given, though they are lost by others, out of fear of punishment by the king, is the third small vow of non-stealing. Desisting from desire for sexual union with a married or unmarried woman who is not one's own wife is the fourth small vow of not casting evil glances at other women. Limiting
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