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## Seventh Decad.
With Hindi Commentary.
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And one should take only a small amount, and only when a human, animal, ascetic, Brahmin, guest, miser, and beggar are taking it, then it is appropriate for the ascetic to take it. One should take it from where food is prepared for one person. But one should take it from where it is not prepared for two, three, four, five, a pregnant woman, a woman with a child. One should not take it from a woman who is breastfeeding her child (and keeps it separate while giving alms). One should not take it from someone whose both feet are inside the threshold or both feet are outside. One should only take alms from someone who has one foot inside the threshold and one foot outside, i.e., who keeps the threshold between their two feet. But one should not take it from someone who does not give in this way.
Commentary- This sutra describes the rules of acceptance (vows) in relation to the substance, time, place, and feeling of a monk who observes the monthly vow. A monk who observes the monthly vow should accept one offering of food and one offering of water.
Here the question arises, "What is meant by 'offering'?" In answer, it is said that the word 'offering' is used in the sense of donation. It is the form of the 'kti' suffix in the sense of the 'da' root. When the giver starts giving food or water in the ascetic's bowl, as long as the unbroken stream of the given substance continues, it is called 'offering'. When the stream is broken, the 'offering' ends. In this way, the number of offerings is determined. The commentator writes about this: "There, donation is offering, 'kti' suffix in the sense of 'offering'. And that is one offering, so one offering, once the householder gives food and water to the ascetic with an unbroken stream, that is one offering. Similarly, when the giver gives with an unbroken stream of alms, then it is the first. And when the stream is broken and given, then it is the second, and so on." Here, many types of distinctions arise. For example: 1-one-alms-one-offering 2-one-alms-many-offerings 3-many-alms-one-offering 4-many-alms-many-offerings (ordinary food). In this way, many distinctions are formed.
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