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## Chapter 18
This chapter discusses the reasons for **Devaagam-Aapta-Mimamsa** (the examination of the scriptures by the liberated soul) and the causes of **paap** (sin). This is because there are definitive beliefs regarding **punya** (merit) and **paap**.
This chapter contains four **karikaas** (verses). The 92nd **karika** examines the belief that causing suffering to others leads to **paap-bandh** (bondage of sin) and causing happiness to others leads to **punya-bandh** (bondage of merit). However, this belief is not valid because it would imply that milk and other things that cause happiness to others, and thorns and other things that cause suffering to others, would also be subject to **punya-bandh** and **paap-bandh**. If it is argued that only **chetana** (conscious beings) are subject to **bandh** (bondage), and not **achetana** (non-conscious beings) like milk and thorns, then even **vitraag** (those free from **kṣayā** (passions)) would be bound by **punya** and **paap**, because they are instrumental in causing happiness to their devotees and suffering to their non-devotees. If it is argued that they do not have the intention to cause them happiness or suffering, then the definitive belief that "causing happiness to others leads to **punya-bandh** and causing suffering to others leads to **paap-bandh**" would not hold true.
The 93rd **karika** examines the arguments of those who say that causing suffering to oneself leads to **punya-bandh** and causing happiness to oneself leads to **paap-bandh**. It is argued that if this principle is accepted, then **vitraag** **muni** (liberated sages) and **vidwaan** **muni** (learned sages) would be bound by **punya** and **paap** due to the suffering caused by **kaayaklesh** (physical pain) and the happiness caused by **tattvajnan** (knowledge of reality), respectively. As a result, they would never be able to escape the bondage of the world. Therefore, this definitive belief also does not seem to be valid.
The 94th **karika** demonstrates the contradiction in both **ubhayekant** (both-sided view) and **anubhayekant** (experience-based view), and the fact that the term "**anubhay**" cannot be used to define it.
The 95th **karika** establishes the nature of **punya** and **paap** through **syadvad** (the doctrine of maybe). It is logically argued that happiness and suffering, whether caused to oneself or others, are subject to **syadvad**. If they are caused by **vishuddhi** (purity, leading to auspicious results) or **sanklesh** (impurity, leading to inauspicious results), or if they are the cause of these results, then...