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=== इन्द्रियनिग्रहः || Indriya Nigraha ===

=== इन्द्रियनिग्रहः || Indriya Nigraha ===

Indriya Nigraha refers Sense-restraint<ref name=":2" /> control of senses<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" />

Indriya Nigraha refers Sense-restraint<ref name=":2" /> or control of senses.<ref name=":0" /> It is very important because, it is lack of control over the senses that results in individuals indulging in all types of illegal and immoral actions, being instigated by the one or more of the six inherent enemies (Arishadvargas), which lands the individual as well as others in misery and sorrow.<ref name=":5" />  

The fifth rule i.e. control of senses is very important because, it is lack of control over the senses that results in individuals indulging in all types of illegal and immoral actions, being instigated by the one or more of the six inherent enemies (Arishadvargas) as discussed earlier which lands himself as well as others in misery and loss of happiness.<ref name=":5" />

Infact, a person who is in the grip of the senses is ever running behind worldly pleasures and hence, will end up committing mistakes that result in sorrow. And it is well known that desire is never extinguished by the enjoyment of desired objects; it only grows stronger like a fire (fed) with clarified butter.<blockquote>न जातु कामः कामानां उपभोगेन शाम्यति । हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते । । २.९४ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2]</ref>

Indriyanigraha: It refers to the control of the mind and the senses. A person who is in the grip of the senses is ever running behind worldly pleasures and hence will end up committing mistakes that result in sorrow. For such a person it is said: ‘Neither (the study of ) the Vedas, nor liberality, nor sacrifices, nor any (self-imposed) restraint, nor austerities, ever procure the attainment (of rewards) to a person whose heart is contaminated (by sensuality)’ (2.97). Hence, without controlling the mind and the senses, there is neither material happiness nor spiritual bliss.

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānāṁ upabhogena śāmyati । haviṣā kr̥ṣṇavartmeva bhūya evābhivardhate । । 2.94 । ।</blockquote>Therefore, without controlling the mind and the senses, there is neither material happiness nor spiritual bliss. However, proper restraint cannot be achieved merely by suppression of desires. Restraint of the senses is possible only through constant awareness and vigilance. Hence, one should practise constant monitoring of one’s thoughts, speech, and actions. Every object towards which the mind or the senses get attracted must be observed and examined by the intellect. The intellect must question whether the object is useful, whether possessing it has any real benefit for oneself and the others, whether possession of such an object is according to dharma or not. It is only by the practice of constant awareness and restraint that a person will be able to attain complete indriyanigraha.<ref name=":7" />

 

The Smritis answer: ‘Desire is never extinguished by the enjoyment of desired objects; it only grows stronger like a fire (fed) with clarified butter’ (2.94). However, proper restraint cannot be achieved merely by suppression of desires. Restraint of the senses is possible only through constant awareness and vigilance. ‘Those (organs) which are strongly attached to sensual pleasures, cannot so effectually be restrained by abstinence (from enjoyments) as by a constant (pursuit of true) knowledge’ (2.96). One should practise constant monitoring of one’s thoughts, speech, and actions. Every object towards which the mind or the senses get attracted must be observed and examined by the intellect. The intellect must question whether the object is useful, whether possessing it has any real benefit for oneself and the others, whether possession of such an object is according to dharma or not. It is only by the practice of constant awareness and restraint that a person will be able to attain complete indriyanigraha.<ref name=":7" />

A few other important tenets of Samanya Dharma that are common to many texts are as follows:  

A few other important tenets of Samanya Dharma that are common to many texts are as follows: