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## Seventh Decad
**With Hindi Commentary**
**2776**
**Commentary:** This sutra describes the eighth pratima. The bhikshu must follow the same procedures as in the first seven pratima. He must observe the pratima for seven nights and days. However, he must also fast for seven days, meaning he should perform the "chavivihar ekanatar tapa" (alternate practice of four types of austerities). He should go outside the city or capital and spend his time meditating in the uttanasana (facing the sky), parvasana (lying on one side), or nishdyasana (sitting with legs crossed) postures. If any deity, human, or animal tries to distract him, he should not be disturbed from his meditation. If he feels the need to relieve himself, he should not hold it back but should go to a previously designated place and relieve himself. After that, he should return to his meditation. This is called the "first seven days of the bhikshu pratima." It is performed according to the previous sutras.
Now the question arises: why is this pratima called the "first" when it should be the "eighth" in the sequence? The answer is that the first seven pratima are numbered according to the number of dattis, but this pratima does not have any dattis, so it is called the "first." Similarly, the ninth is called the "second" and the tenth is called the "third." Due to the special nature of the abhigraha, the names are also special. However, remember that the rules of the first seven pratima, apart from the dattis, must also be followed in these.
Now the sutrakar speaks about the ninth and tenth pratima:
**6.** "Thus, for seven nights and days, if he finds a place for the navara, either in a place where there is a stick, or a place where there is a log, or a place where there is a tree, he should remain there and observe it until the end."
**10.** "Thus, for seven nights and days, if he finds a place for the navara, either in a place where there is a cow's milk, or a place where there is a hero's seat, or a place where there is a mango tree, he should remain there and observe it until the end."