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In सचित्र उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र
पञ्चदश अध्ययन [१७४
CHAPTER 15 TRUE MENDICANT
Foreview
The title of this chapter is Sabhikkhuyam (sabhikṣuka). There are two causes of this title-first, in the end of all couplets, the word Sa bhikṣuka (Sa bhikkhuyam) has bean used. The second, in this chapter the virtues, symptoms and life-order of a true mendicant have been described.
Really the name of this chapter, Sa bhikkhu, is derived from the burden which runs through the whole chapter and winds up every couplet.
In the preceding fourteenth chapter six persons became homeless mendicants, whom lifeorder was to obtain all necessities by asking was described. The virtues and symptoms of mendicant's life-order (getting every thing by asking) are described in this chapter.
Here the word bhiksu bears special meaning. This word used only for true mendicant. Such mendicant who accepts the alms which is beneficial for both-giver and taker. Mendicant too leads his religious life and the giver automatically gets benefits.
It is an established fact that the observer of penances, who has abandoned home-womenpossession-wealth, too needs some necessary means to subsist, and all these means he gets by asking from liberal householders.
During this asking many times he has to tolerate insult. The troubles of cold, heat, lodging etc., also he has to tolerate. But he never becomes depressed.
True mendicant preserves his asking-order faultless, remains away from deceit and volition, does not have more acquaintance with worldly persons, eats and drinks nothing in night, seeks alms from the unknown and unacquainted families, does not indulge any heartattractive lifeless or with life thing; he aims only the progress of his own soul.
In this chapter the description of ask-subsistent, self-controller true mendicant is given, in short.
This chapter consists only 16 couplets.
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