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[The Nishīth Sutra states that consuming food at night violates the fundamental principles like non-violence (ahimsa) and the other five vows. The sixth vow, abstaining from food at night, is also a fundamental principle, and its violation is a transgression. It is impossible to purify minute living beings like insects and the seeds of fruits. Searching for food at night also violates the principle of non-attachment (aeshana samiti). Churnikaar has said, "Even those who have direct knowledge and see the purity of food and drink, do not eat at night because it violates the fundamental principles." The Tirthankaras, Ganadharas, and Acharyas have also refrained from eating at night because it violates the sixth fundamental principle. Therefore, one should not eat at night.
**Meaning:** Those who have direct knowledge, even though they know the purity of food and drink, do not eat at night because it violates the fundamental principles. The Tirthankaras, Ganadharas, and Acharyas have not consumed food at night, which violates the sixth fundamental principle. Therefore, one should not eat at night.
**The following passages from the scriptures prohibit eating at night:**
1. The Dashavakalik Sutra, Chapter 3, states that eating at night is considered unrighteous for a Nigrantha.
2. The Dashavakalik Sutra, Chapter 6, states that eating at night leads to corruption of the Nigrantha state and lists its consequences.
3. The Dashavakalik Sutra, Chapter 4, mentions abstaining from food at night as the sixth vow along with the five great vows.
4. The Dashavakalik Sutra, Chapter 8, prohibits even mentally desiring food from sunset to sunrise.
5. The Uttaradhyayanasutra, Chapter 19, Verse 31, describes the difficulty of self-control and mentions that abstaining from all four types of food at night is very difficult.
6. The Brihatkalpa, Chapter 1, prohibits consuming all four types of food at night or during twilight (sandhya).
7. The Brihatkalpa, Chapter 5, states that if one realizes that sunrise has not occurred or sunset has already happened while eating, one should spit out the food in the mouth and perform atonement. It also mentions atonement for swallowing food or water at night and prescribes spitting it out.
8. The Dasha-Dasha, Chapter 2, and the Samavayanga Sutra, Chapter 21, call eating at night a "shabal dosha" (a fault).
9. The Brihatkalpa, Chapter 4, mentions the atonement for eating at night as "anudghatik" (severe).
10. The Thananga Sutra, Chapter 3 and Chapter 5, mention the atonement for eating at night as "anudghatik."
11. The Suyagadaanga Sutra, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3, mention the five great vows, including abstaining from food at night, as the supreme jewels that a sadhu should possess. This highlights the importance of abstaining from food at night, equating it to the great vows.
**Other scriptures also mention the following regarding eating at night:**
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