Arjava

Ārjava (

Ārjav means straightness, sincerity, and harmony in one’s thought, words, and actions towards oneself and towards others.[1] Kane translates arjava as straightforwardness.^[3] It is described in ancient Indian texts as “self-restraint from hypocrisy", and "the absence of hypocrisy”. It is included as one of several virtuous restraints in an individual's path to spirituality. The Maharashtrian poet Vāmana in Avigita, at xvi.1, posits arjava is a form of honesty and purity in a person, and an essential virtue so that one may treat everyone equally, whether that other is one’s child, wife, relative, friend, a stranger, or someone hostile or oneself without any discrimination.^[1]

The ethical concept of arjava is synonymous with Adambha (अदम्भ, composite word from अ+दम्भ). Adambha also means non-deceitful, straightforwardness, and sincerity.^[4] It is listed as a virtue in the Indian Epics.^[5]

Arjava is one of the ten yamas listed by Śāṇḍilya Upanishad,^[2] as well as by Svātmārāma.^[6][7] The other nine are:

1. ahiṃsā
   (अहिंसा): nonviolence
2. satya (सत्य): truthfulness
3. asteya
   (अस्तेय): not stealing
4. brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy and not cheating on one’s spouse
5. kṣamā (क्षमा): forgiveness^[8]
6. dhṛti (धृति): fortitude
7. dayā (दया): compassion^[8]
8. mitāhāra (मितहार): measured diet
9. śauca (शौच): purity, cleanliness

In some texts, such as by

Patanjali's treatise on Yoga lists only five yamas, which includes non-covetousness and non-possessiveness (asteya and aparigraha respectively), but does not include arjava.[11]

• Ahiṃsā
   – Ancient Indian principle of nonviolencePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Akrodha – Important virtue in Indian philosophy and Hindu ethics
• Asteya
   – Non-stealing, a virtue in Indian religionsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Brahmacharya – Motivated abstinence from worldly pleasures
• Dāna – Concept of charity in Indian religions
• Dayā – Movement or motivation to help others
• Dhṛti – Yama (ethical rule) in Hinduism
• Kṣamā – Renunciation or cessation of resentment, indignation, or anger
• Mitahara – Concept in Indian philosophy
• Satya – Sanskrit word and a virtue in Indian religions
• Śauca – Cleanliness in Indic religions and yoga