गृहस्थ का लक्षण
Summary
This text presents a description of the ideal householder (gṛhastha) and the lay follower (śrāvaka) from a Jain doctrinal perspective. The householder is characterized by earning wealth through just means, worshipping virtuous elders and gurus, and speaking respectfully without harshness or slander. He engages in dharma, artha, and kama in a mutually harmonious way, ensuring no harm comes to others. He possesses a suitable wife, village, town, and home, and is modest. His conduct includes regulated eating and movement according to scripture, association with virtuous men, thoughtfulness, gratitude for favors received, and self-control. He daily listens to religious teachings, is compassionate, and fears sin, enabling him to properly observe the householder's dharma. The text further defines the śrāvaka as one who is steadfast in the primary and secondary vows, who takes refuge in the five supreme beings (Pañca-Parameṣṭhi), and whose main activities are charity and worship. He is also described as one who thirsts for the nectar of knowledge. The commentary is attributed to Pandit Kailashchandra Shastri.
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Conclusion
This document underscores the foundational role of the householder (shravaka) in Jain ethics, outlining a disciplined life of righteous conduct, controlled senses, and spiritual aspiration. The implications are clear: worldly life is not a barrier to dharma but a legitimate field for its practice, provided one adheres to principles of non-violence, charity, and reverence for the enlightened. The outcome is a structured path where material responsibilities and spiritual growth coexist, with the householder actively cultivating virtue, gratitude, and scriptural knowledge. Ultimately, the text affirms that a layperson, through balanced living and devotion to the five supreme beings, can progress toward liberation, making Jain spirituality accessible beyond monastic renunciation.