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## 62. Avoiding *Aadhākarma*
The facts described in the seventh gate, named *Yathāpṛcchā*, in the *Piṇḍaviśuddhiprakaraṇa* are explained under the heading of *Piṇḍaniryukti* in the context of *vidhi* and *avidhi* avoidance. This topic is discussed separately in *Piṇḍaniryukti* after the explanation of the nine gates.
Knowing the faults caused by *ādhākarma*, a *sādhu* avoids it in two ways: 1. *Vidhi-parihāra* 2. *Avidhi-parihāra*. A *sādhu* who avoids *ādhākarma* through *avidhi* cannot properly follow the path of *sādhu* and cannot gain the benefits of knowledge, etc. In *avidhi-parihāra*, the author mentions the story of a *bhikṣu*. When the *bhikṣu* asked, the householder replied that this *śālyodana* came from *Gobaragrāma* in Magadha. To find out more, he started going to *Gobaragrāma*. Since he feared that the path might be constructed by *ādhākarmis*, he left the main path and started going through a difficult path full of thorns, snakes, etc. He also avoided the shade of trees, considering it to be *ādhākarmic*. He fainted on the way and started accumulating *saṃkleśa*.
In *vidhi-parihāra*, a *sādhu* pays attention to four things: *dravya*, *kula*, *deśa*, and *bhāva*. Explaining these, the author says that if an unlikely *dravya* is available in a particular *deśa*, if abundant food is available in a small family, and if the donation is given with excessive respect, then there might be a possibility of *ādhākarma*. If an item is commonly used by people in a particular place and is available in abundance, then there is no need for inquiry. For example, *maṇḍaka* (a type of bread) is abundant in the *Mālavā* region, so there is no fear of *ādhākarma* regarding that *dravya*. However, even there, if the family is small and the *dravya* is abundant, then there might be a suspicion of *ādhākarma*. If a donor is giving the donation disrespectfully, then also there is usually no fear of *ādhākarma*, because a donor who provides *ādhākarma* food usually also shows respect.
The author presents a psychological method to examine whether *ādhākarma* food has been prepared in a particular house or not. If, upon inquiry, the housewife says deceitfully that this food is prepared for the family members, not for you, and if other family members look at each other with suspicion or laugh shyly, then the *sādhu* should consider that food to be *ādhākarmic* and avoid it. If, upon inquiry, the donor
1. *Piṇi* 89/1-3, *Mavṛ* p. 72, 73.
*Piṇḍaniryukta*
2. *Piṇi* 89/4-7, *Mavṛ* p. 73.