The soul is still unable to take those vows which help in the fight against karma (which we shall discuss in the next chapter) and so the step is called Avirati. He can now, if he likes, control anger, pride and greed and three branches of Mohanlya karma (Mithyatva, Misra, and Sam- yaktva), and it is a very dangerous thing not to destroy all of them, for they may lead to a man's falling back to the second step. Whilst on this fourth step, the jiva gains five good things: the power of curbing anger {Sama); the realization that the world is evil, and that since it is a place in which one has to reap the fruits of one's own karma, one need have little affection for it {Samavega i) ; he also realizes that his wife and children do not belong to him [Nirveda) ; and that he must try and relieve any one who is in trouble {Anukampd) ; and lastly he gains complete faith in all the victorious Jina [Asthd). We have seen that the distinguish- ing mark of this stage is that a man does not yet take the vows ; he may wish to do so, but though he has destroyed excessive anger, pride and greed, he has not yet entirely escaped from their influence.
v. Desa
.
The fifth step, Desavirati^ gunasthdnaka, or the step of
merit, as it is often called, is specially interesting, for up
till now faith has been the chief point that has exercised
the thoughts of the climber, but now he realizes the great
importance of conduct, and so can take the twelve vows
which, as we shall see, deal largely with questions of be-
haviour. The step has three parts. First [Jaghanya
desavirati), a man promises not to drink intoxicants or to
eat flesh, and he constantly repeats the MagadhI salutation
to the Five Great Ones (Paiica Paramesvara) : ' A bow
to Arihanta, a bow to Siddha, a bow to Acarya, a bow to
Upadhyaya, a bow to all the Sadhus of this world.' Then,
though still on the fifth step, he may advance a little higher
on it {Madhyamades avirati) and, keeping all the twelve vows,
take special care only to make money in righteous ways.
^ Or Samvega.
^ Otherwise Samyaidsamyata.
