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## 138
## Pinḍaniryukti
One is not considered a *śayyatara* while staying in a place, but becomes a *śayyatara* upon sleeping and performing necessary (pratikramṇa) actions. If both the night stay and the morning pratikramṇa are performed at another place, then the owners of both places are considered *śayyatara*. The *Nīśītha Bhāṣya* and its *Cūrṇi* provide detailed discussions on when one becomes a *śayyatara*.
Grass, *ḍagala*, alkali, *malla*, bed, bedding, platform, and plaster are not considered *śayyatara-piṇḍa*, hence they can be taken. Even clothes and utensils, including *śaikṣa*, are not *śayyatara-piṇḍa*, meaning they can be taken if the son of a *śayyatara* is initiated.
Twelve items are considered *śayyatara-piṇḍa*: food, drink, *khādima*, *svādima*, footwear, clothes, utensils, blanket, needle, razor, ear cleaner, and nail cutter.
The main reason for prohibiting *śayyatara-piṇḍa* is that by repeatedly visiting the house where the monk resides, the householder may prepare alms with *ādhākarma* and *auddeśika* faults due to excessive familiarity. Taking daily prescribed food increases attachment to food, and sometimes, frequent visits may also alienate the *śayyatara* from the Dharma or the monks, making it difficult for other monks to find accommodation. The *Bhāṣyakāra* has described in detail the faults arising from accepting *śayyatara-piṇḍa*.
The *Piṇḍaviśuddhiprakaraṇa* mentions two stories in this context. One *śayyatara* gave a blanket to a monk. His son and brother also gave him blankets and other clothes. Due to the burden of abundant equipment, the monk did not travel elsewhere. By divine providence, there was a famine in that area. The householder thought that both the monk and he would perish in the famine, so he should send the monk to a prosperous region by some means. One day, when the monk was going out for *utsarga*, he took out all the equipment, hid it, and set fire to the house. When the monk returned, he gave him some equipment. The monk started to leave for another country, then the *śayyatara* said, "Come back here when there is prosperity." The monk came back there when there was prosperity. The *śayyatara* again offered him his equipment. Thus, accepting *śayyatara-piṇḍa* leads to the diminishment and disrespect of preaching.
Five hundred monks stayed at the house of a householder. The monks used to take their first alms from the *śayyatara* every day. In due course, he became poor. When those monks left, other monks came there. They also requested accommodation. The householder said, "I only have accommodation, but I have nothing to give for the first alms."
1. *Bṛhabhāṣya* 3529, *Prasādya* 803.
2. *Bṛhabhāṣya* 3530, *Prasādya* 802.
3. *Nīśītha Bhāṣya* 1155, *Cūrṇi* p. 134, *Bṛhabhāṣya* 3536, *Ṭīkā* p. 984, 985.
4. *Nīśītha Bhāṣya* 1154, *Bṛhabhāṣya* 3535.
5. *Bṛhabhāṣya* 3540, *Nīśītha Bhāṣya* 1159.
6. *Bṛhabhāṣya* 3541-49, 6378.
7. *Piṇḍapraṇṭī* p. 90.