The Indian commentator, M[=a]dhav[=a]ch[=a]rya, in his well-known summary of Hind[=u] sects (called Sarva-dars´ana-sangraha) has given an interesting sketch of the Jainas from his own investigation of their sacred writings. Their philosophers are sometimes called Sy[=a]d-v[=a]dins, "asserters of possibility," because their system propounds seven modes of reconciling opposite views (_sapta-bhanga-naya_) as to the possibility of anything existing or not existing. All visible objects--all the phenomena of the universe--are distributed under the two principles (_tattva_) or categories of animate (_j[=i]va_), and inanimate (_a-j[=i]va_). Again, all living beings comprised under the former are divided into three classes: (1) eternally perfect, as the Jina; (2) emancipated from the power of acts; (3) bound by acts and worldly associations. Or, again, nine principles are enumerated--namely, life, absence of life, merit (_punya_), demerit, passion, helps to restraint, helps to freedom from worldly attachments, bondage, emancipation. Inanimate matter is sometimes referred to a principle (_tattva_) called Pudgala, which it is easier for Jaina philosophers to talk about than to explain. When we come to the Jaina moral code, we find ourselves transported from the mists of fanciful ideas and arbitrary speculation to a clearer atmosphere and firmer ground. The three gems which every Jaina is required to seek after with earnestness and diligence, are right intuition, right knowledge, and right conduct. The nature of the first two may be inferred from the explanations already given. Right conduct consists in the observance of five duties (_vratas_), and the avoidance of five sins implied in five prohibitions. The five duties are:--Be merciful to all living things; practise almsgiving and liberality; venerate the perfect sages while living, and worship their images after their decease; confess your sins annually, and mutually forgive each other; observe fasting. The five prohibitions are:--Kill not; lie not; steal not; commit not adultery or impurity; love not the world or worldly honour. If equal practical importance were attached to these ten precepts, the Jaina system could not fail to conduce in a high degree to the happiness and well-being of its adherents, however perverted their religious sense may be. Unfortunately, undue stress is laid on the first duty and first prohibition, to the comparative neglect of some of the others. In former days, when Buddhism and Jainism were prevalent everywhere, "Kill not" was required to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet in every city daily.[16]