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Sixth Stage
With Hindi Bhasha Tika.
Meaning - Now they speak of the fifth pratima (stage of spiritual development). The one who has attained this pratima has interest in all religions. He has adopted the vows of shila, etc. He properly performs the samaayika and deshavakashika vows. He observes the poshadha vow on the fourteenth, eighth, new moon and full moon days. He also properly observes the one-night kāyotsarga pratima. He does not bathe, renounces night meals, does not remove the long part of the dhoti, remains celibate during the day, and limits sexual activity at night. In this way, he wanders for at least one day, two days, or three days, up to a maximum of five months. This is the fifth upasaka-pratima.
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Commentary - This sutra describes the fifth pratima. The one who observes the fifth pratima properly follows the rules of the previously mentioned four pratimas. For example, first, he has interest in all religions. He adopts the vows of shila, etc. and follows them without fail. He properly performs the samaayika and deshavakashika vows. He worships the poshadha vow on the fourteenth, eighth, new moon and full moon days. Along with these, he also properly observes the one-night kāyotsarga pratima. In this fifth pratima, five things are particularly observed: not bathing for five months, renouncing night meals, not removing the long part of the dhoti, observing celibacy during the day, and limiting sexual activity at night. The fifth pratima is properly observed according to these rules. If someone who has adopted the fifth pratima concludes his worldly life (dies) or attains diksha within one, two, three or ten days, i.e., before the five-month period, then the duration will be only for those many days for him. But for those who are alive and have not attained diksha, the duration of the fifth pratima is set at five months. The duration of the earlier pratimas is also included within this.