Yama
(यम)Literal Meaning
Restraint, ethical discipline
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
From Sanskrit 'yam' — to restrain or control — the first limb of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, comprising five ethical restraints including non-violence and truthfulness.
Spiritual Insight & Context
The five Yamas — Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha — govern a yogi's conduct toward others, forming the ethical foundation without which deeper practice is considered unstable.