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[Nishīthasūtra]
The commentator of the Praśravya-karaṇa has stated in his commentary on the above text that the number of instruments of the Śramaṇas, which is said to be fourteen, is only possible if Rajo-haraṇa and Pāda-pochan are considered as distinct.
In Ācārya Śruti 2, Adhyāya 10, it is stated that if a strong urge to defecate arises and one does not have their own Pāda-pochan, they should request it from a fellow Śramaṇa. However, there is no such option for Rajo-haraṇa, as even an Acela Jinakalpī Bhikṣu is required to have a Rajo-haraṇa.
These Āgama-pramaṇas prove that Rajo-haraṇa and Pāda-pochan are distinct instruments, therefore, they should not be considered as one.
Rajo-haraṇa is a medicinal instrument made from a group of pods. Pāda-pochan is a piece of cloth and is an auxiliary instrument.
Pāda-pochan with a wooden stick is a piece of cloth tied to a stick. In the seventh sūtra, the atonement for keeping a Pāda-pochan with a wooden stick for more than a month and a half is mentioned. The commentator, while explaining this topic, has stated that a new Pāda-pochan can be kept for a month, an old Pāda-pochan can be kept for two months, and a worn-out Pāda-pochan can be kept for a month and a half. After that, if necessary, one should request another Pāda-pochan or make a new one.
The reason for this is that: 1. Pāda-pochan with a wooden stick can be used for 2-4 days in some places or for a month and a half in an excellent area due to the nature of time. Later, in many parts of the house, the propagation of small creatures like spiders does not remain. Or
2. The cloth of the Pāda-pochan attached to the wooden stick becomes very dirty after a month and a half due to moisture, etc., and the birth of living beings takes place in it, or if the cloth is worn out, it becomes unpleasant to look at, therefore, it can be removed and another cloth can be attached. Therefore, the atonement for violating the limit of a month and a half is mentioned in the sūtra. Before a month and a half, it can be removed and changed whenever necessary. However, removing it without reason or removing it daily leads to an increase in negligence. Therefore, in the eighth sūtra, the atonement for removing and separating the cloth from the stick without reason is mentioned.
Pāda-pochan with a wooden stick should be tied in such a way that it can be easily cleaned. Just as a cloth becomes easy to clean by sewing it properly and tying it properly, similarly, Pāda-pochan tied properly with a wooden stick is also easy to clean. There is no need to remove it without reason.
In Bhāṣya Gā. 1413, Pāda-pochan is called an auxiliary instrument, therefore, it is appropriate to keep it and use it for as long as necessary in the area and time. When it is no longer needed, it should be discarded or given away.
In summary, a Bhikṣu can keep a well-cleaned Pāda-pochan with a wooden stick for a maximum of a month and a half if necessary. Even after that, if it becomes necessary to keep it, it should be removed and changed.