Answer

In Jain Dharma, puṇya and pāpa are not just actions, but also the karmic results that bind to the soul.

• Puṇya = auspicious karma, which brings happiness, good circumstances, health, respect, and support for spiritual progress.
• Pāpa = inauspicious karma, which brings suffering, obstacles, pain, and unfavorable situations.

Explanation

Commonly, puṇya and pāpa are understood through the kinds of actions that create them:

Puṇya-producing actions

• Ahimsa: non-violence, compassion, protecting life
• Satya: truthfulness
• Asteya: not stealing
• Brahmacharya: chastity or self-restraint
• Aparigraha: non-possessiveness
• Dāna: charity and generosity
• Seva: service to monks, nuns, parents, and the needy
• Samyag-darśan: right faith
• Samyag-jñān: right knowledge
• Samyak-cāritra: right conduct
• Tapa: austerity and self-discipline
• Bhakti: devotion and reverence

Pāpa-producing actions

• Himsa: violence
• Asatya: lying
• Stealing
• Misconduct and lack of self-control
• Greed and attachment
• Anger, pride, deceit, and selfishness
• Harsh speech
• Causing harm through body, speech, or mind

Spiritual Understanding

In Jainism, both puṇya and pāpa keep the soul in bondage. Puṇya gives pleasant worldly results, but it is still karma. Pāpa gives painful results and increases suffering.

The highest goal is not to collect more puṇya, but to move beyond both puṇya and pāpa through:

• right faith
• right knowledge
• right conduct
• purification of the soul

Takeaway

• Puṇya comes from wholesome, compassionate, disciplined actions.
• Pāpa comes from हिंसा, गलत आचरण, and harmful thoughts, words, and deeds.
• In Jain Dharma, the ultimate aim is liberation from both.

If you want, I can also give you a simple table of puṇya vs pāpa in Jainism.