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[Sixth Chapter]
[123
Just as food enters the mouth, in the same way, Arjun Muni, without touching either side of the mouth, only keeping the mouth, swallows it down the throat. The implication is that just as a snake does not touch its limbs while entering a hole, it enters with great hesitation, in the same way, Arjun Muni, without expecting any kind of taste, free from attachment and aversion, as if it had not touched the mouth, in this way, only for the purpose of satisfying hunger, Arjun Muni consumes food. This statement indicates the complete absence of their sensory perception of taste. The supreme practice of a restrained person is to conquer the sense of taste. Arjun Muni had understood the secret of this practice well and had also implemented it in his life.
'Teṇam Orāleṇam Viuleṇam Payatteṇam Paggahieṇam Mahāṇubhāgeṇam Tavokammeṇam' - Teṇam Pūrvabhaṇiten Udareṇam-Pradhānena, Vipuleṇam - Viśālena, Bhagavatā Dattena, Pragṛhītena, Utkṛṣṭabhāvataḥ Svīkṛtena, Mahāṇubhāgena Mahān Anuabhāgaḥ Prabhāvo Yasya, Teṇam Tapaḥ Karmaṇā. Here, the importance of the penance that Arjun Muni has performed is expressed. In the present text, Tapa Karma is the special and Udara etc. are its adjectives. Their meaning is as follows.
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Teṇam - This word refers to the fully described penance. It was mentioned in the case of Arjun Muni's practice that when Arjun Muni went to the city for alms, he was abused by the people, he was insulted, he was beaten, yet he endured all these tortures peacefully. In addition, if he got food, he did not get water, if he got water, he did not get food. Even though all this happened, Arjun Muni never became restless, even after fasting for two days, he never felt dejected without getting satisfactory food. The sutrakara has indicated this type of penance with the word 'Teṇam'.
'Udara' - The word means - Pradhan. Pradhan is said to be the greatest. It is easy to stay hungry, control over the sense of taste can also be done, it is also possible to make a living by begging, but it is not a child's play to perform penance by being insulted by people and enduring beatings. This is a very difficult task, a very rigorous practice, which is why the sutrakara has called Arjun Muni's penance Udara, i.e. the greatest.
'Vipul' - It is said to be vast. One can endure hardship once, one can face hardship two or three times, but how difficult is it to live under the shadow of hardship for six months continuously? It is not difficult to understand. Wherever you go, there is insult, wherever you enter a house, there is a shower of disrespect, there is no sign of respect anywhere. In such a situation, to keep the mind calm, to keep anger away, is a great feat and a great penance, an unprecedented tolerance. It is possible that this is why the sutrakara has called Arjun Muni's penance practice Vipul - vast and great.
'Pradatt' - means - given. The penance that Arjun Muni was performing, he did not start it on his own without asking anyone, but he started it after receiving the command of Bhagwan Mahavira. Therefore, the sutrakara has called this penance Pradatt.