Ṛgveda
It means 5 commandments. Hindus today submit to the Panchavrata or five major vows or commandments:
- Ahiṅsa – non-injury
- Brahmacharya – non-fornication
- Asteya – non-stealing
- Satya – non-lying
- Aparigraha – non-possessiveness
The following excerpt from the Ṛgveda[6][7] sums up the Panchavrata:”Violence, womanizing, drinking liquor, gambling, stealing, falsehood or lying and association with those who commit these sins; one who commits any of these sins is a sinner.”
Bhagavad Gitā
It has 9 commandments. The lawgiver Kṛṣṇa gave the following precepts:
- Amanitva – Absence of pride
- Adambhitva – Absence of deceit
- Ahiṅsā – Non-injury
- Śanti – Patience
- Arjava – Uprightness
- Acaryopāsāna – Service to the teacher
- Sauca – Internal and external purity
- Sthairya – Steadfastness
- Atmavinigraha – Self-control
Manu Smriti
It has 10 commandments. In Manusmṛti ten aspects of general duties are mentioned. They are:
- Ahiṅsā
- Truthfulness
- Non-stealing
- Purity
- Control of senses
- Intelligence
- Knowledge
- Non-anger
- Forgiveness
- Tenacity of purpose
Yājñavalkya Smrti
It has 5 commandments. Sage Yājñavalkya was a ṛṣi in the Vedic age and mentor of Rājā Janaka. The Yājñavalkya Smṛti[8][9]) prescribes the Panchavrata, apart from other moral codes.[10]
“Altruism (ijyacara), control of mind (dama), non-violence (ahimsa), charity (danam), self-study (svadhyaya), work (karma), realisation of the Atman by means of Yoga (yogena atma darshanam) — all these are Dharmas. Samskāras — Sacraments”[1]
Yoga Sutra
It has 10 commandments. Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras lists them to follow for a good or sinless livelihood.
- Ahiṅsā: Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury that arises out of love for all, harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This and Satya are the “main” yama. The other eight are there in support of its accomplishment.
- Satya: Truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts, honesty.
- Asteya: Non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.
- Brahmacharya: being constantly aware of the universe, immersed in divinity, divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithfulness when married.
- Kṣama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
- Dṛti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.
- Dayā: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.
- Ārjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
- Mithara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.
- Śaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech
Chandogya Upaniṣad
- austerity
- charity
- straightforwardness
- nonviolence
- truthfulness[2]
Śāndilya Upaniṣad
It has 10 commandments. Śāndilya Upaniṣad is the 62nd Upaniṣad[11] and it declares 10 yamas.[12]
- Ahiṅsā – Non-violence
- Satya – Truth
- Asteya – Non-stealing
- Brahmacharya – Celibacy
- Dayā – Compassion
- Ārjava – Equanimity
- Kṣamā – Forgiveness
- Dhṛti – Firmness of mind
- Mitāhāra – Vegetarianism and non-wasting of food
- Sancha
Veda Vyāsa
It has 10 commandments. In the Mahā Purāṇam Śrimad Devî Bhāgavatam, Veda Vyāsa writes of achieving yoga or union with God by destroying the six enemies of yoga;
- Lust
- Anger
- Greed
- Ignorance
- Vanity
- Jealousy
The six attributes can be destroyed by following Patanjali’s commandments.[13]
Maharishi Gautama
It has 10 commandments. Mahaṛṣi Gautama was a lawgiver, and ascribed eight yamas.[14]
- Dāyā sarvabhuteshu: Kindness, compassion, pity and sympathy towards every living being.
- Kṣamā: Forgiveness.
- Anusuyā, anirmatsarata: No jealousy.
- Śauch, antar-bāhya-śuchirbhutata: Purity, the state of being pure from outside and inside.
- Anāyāsa: Not to indulge in petty and meaningless things.
- Mangala: To think, wish and work for bliss, well-being and prosperity of all.
- Akarpanya: Neither to be nor to show weakness and miserliness.
- Aspṛha: Neither list nor wish to possess whatever belonged to others.
Srimad Bhagavatam
It has 30 commandments. The Śrimad Bhāgavatam[15] lays down the following customs to be practiced for a good human life.[16]
- Truthfulness
- Mercy
- Austerity[17]
- Bathing twice a day
- Tolerance
- Discrimination between right and wrong
- Control of the mind
- Control of the senses
- Nonviolence
- Celibacy
- Charity
- Reading of scripture
- Simplicity
- Satisfaction
- Rendering service to saintly persons
- Gradually taking leave of unnecessary engagements
- Observing the futility of the unnecessary activities of human society
- Remaining silent and grave and avoiding unnecessary talk
- Considering whether one is the body or the soul
- Distributing food equally to all living entities[18]
- Seeing every soul[19] as a part of the Supreme Lord
- Hearing about the activities and instructions given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead[20]
- Chanting about these activities and instructions
- Always remembering these activities and instructions
- Trying to render service
- Performing worship
- Offering obeisances
- Becoming a servant
- Becoming a friend
- Surrendering one’s whole self
Nārada Bhakti Sutra
It means 5 commandments. The Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 78 declares five principles to practice.[21]
- Nonviolence
- Truthfulness
- Cleanliness
- Compassion
- Faith
The more complex the rules of righteousness is according to the status/devotion to ones purpose. No doubt that priests, buddas, monks etc..who devote their lives to the divine in their absolute purity has implemented stricter rules. However, the common rules are the ones which humanity needs to acknowledge. There are the rules that structure harmonious living and peace on earth. -Hindupedia