Here is a concise Jain understanding of the five great vows (mahavratas):

• Ahimsa (non-violence): Not harming any living being in thought, word, or deed. Jain practice extends compassion to all beings and aims to minimize harm in every action.

• Satya (truth): Speaking the truth with non-harm. Truthfulness is tempered by non-violence; one should avoid causing harm even while telling the truth.

• Asteya (non-stealing): Not taking anything that is not willingly given. This includes respecting others’ property, time, and resources.

• Brahmacharya (chastity/celibacy): For monks and nuns, complete celibacy. For lay followers, it means controlling sexual conduct and using sexual energy mindfully, without exploitation or harm.

• Aparigraha (non-attachment): Non-possessiveness and non-attachment to worldly possessions. This encourages simplicity, detachment, and letting go of greed.

Notes:

• These vows are central to Jain ethics and underpin the path of right conduct (samyak-dharma) for both monks and lay followers, with the degree of observance differing by caste/order (Digambar vs. Shwetambar) and individual capacity.
• Brahmacharya has particular emphasis for renunciants (monks/nuns) as complete celibacy, while laypeople practice restraint appropriate to household life.

If you’d like, I can expand each vow with scriptural references and practical examples from Jain tradition.