Question

What is the number of Brahmavihāras?

• A. Five
• B. Six
• C. Four
• D. Three

Hint:

Love–Care–Cheer–Calm mnemonic se 4 Brahmavihāras turant yaad ho jāte hain.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Brahmavihāra paribhāṣā.
“Brahmavihāra” arthāt ve mana-sthitiyaṁ jinmeṁ ek bhikṣu “brahma-sama” śuddh aur uttarottar śrēṣṭh āśray meṁ vas kartā hai—arthāt four sublime states.
Step 2: Vyakt sūchi (Skt/Pāli paryāy).
(1) Maitrī (Metta)—sarvabhūteṣu hitaiṣitā, loving-kindness.
(2) Karuṇā—dayā, duḥkha-haraṇa kī icchā.
(3) Muditā—parānanda meṁ ānand, sympathetic joy.
(4) Upekṣā (Upekkhā)—samatā, nirvikāratā.
Step 3: Kyoṅ “4” hī maane jate haiṁ.
Pāli Nikāyas meṁ inheṁ cār appamaññā (boundless states) kahā gayā hai; parampare se yah niṣchit rūp se cār hī gīne jātē haiṁ—na teen, na pāṅch/ chhe.
Step 4: Vikalpoṅ kā nirākaraṇ.
Five / Six: Brahmavihāra śreṇī meṁ itne aṅk ka ullekh nahi; kabhī-kabhī “mettā-bhāvanā” ādi ke upāya/krama baḍh sakte haiṁ, par saṅkhyā cār sthir rahtī hai.
Three: Teen kā koī canonical roop nahi; upekṣā ko chhoṛkar teen banana galat hai.
Step 5: Yād rakhne kā tarīqa.
Phrase banāo: “Love–Care–Cheer–Calm” = Loving-kindness, Care (Compassion), Cheer (Sympathetic Joy), Calm (Equanimity) \(\Rightarrow\) total 4.
Step 6: Niṣkarṣ.
Is prashn kā saṭīk uttar Four hai; isliye vikalp (3) sahi hai.