Verse 7.20 - Definition of the householder votary (agārī)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 7.20:

अणुव्रतोऽगारी ॥ ७.२० ॥

aṇuvrato'gārī || 7.20 ||

The one who observes minor-vows (aṇuvrata) is a householder–agārī. (20)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [अणुव्रतः] अणुव्रत अर्थात् एकदेश व्रत पालनेवाले सम्यग्दृष्टि जीव [अगारी] सागार कहे जाते हैं।

Anvayartha: [anuvratah] anuvrata arthat ekadesha vrata palanevale samyagdrishti jiva [agari] sagara kahe jate haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The householder votary–agārī–is explained further.

The word ‘aṇu’ indicates smallness. He whose vows are of minor nature is called a householder with minor vows–agārī. Why are his vows called of minor nature? It is because it is not possible for him to desist from all sins, like injury (hiṃsā), completely. If so, what does he desist from? He desists from injury (hiṃsā) to the beings with two or more senses–trasa jīva–hence, he observes the first of the minor vows–ahiṃsāṇuvrata. The householder refrains from speaking lies, attributable to faults like fondness (sneha) and delusion (moha), and potent cause of the destruction of his home or village; this is his second minor vow of speaking the truth–satyāṇuvrata. Out of the fear of punishment by the king or thinking that it may hurt someone, the householder certainly refrains from taking things not given to him. Moreover, his attraction for anything not given to him is reduced and thus he is said to observe the third minor vow of non-stealing–acauryāṇuvrata. His desire for sexual union with other (not one’s own wife) married or unmarried women becomes extinct; this is the fourth minor vow of renouncing other women–parastrītyāga aṇuvrata. He limits his possessions, like riches, corn and land, of his own accord; this is the fifth minor vow of limiting possessions–parigrahaparimāṇa aṇuvrata.