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**The Nishītha Sūtra is required. It is also necessary to seek the guidance of the Gītartha before consuming any specific food. A Gītartha who is not [Abahuśruta] or is not a Pariṇāmī or Atipariṇāmī monk is unfit to decide on the consumption of food or exceptions to the rules.**
**It is also essential to be mindful of the location, time, and person when deciding to consume food or make exceptions. In difficult situations, one should firmly adhere to the guidance of the Gītartha and refrain from consuming food. This not only brings great benefit to oneself but also contributes to the influence of the Jinaśāsana.**
**Therefore, a monk should firmly adhere to the principle of non-violation of the vow of non-consumption, even once.**
**Prāyaścitta for consuming food mixed with all bodies (Pratyekakāya-saṃyukta āhārakaraṇa-prāyaścitta)**
**4. A monk who consumes food mixed with all bodies or approves of such consumption.** [This incurs a Laghu-Cāumāsī Prāyaścitta.]
**Discussion:** The fourth Uddesaka mentions the Laghu-Māsīka Prāyaścitta for consuming grains and seeds with awareness. The tenth Uddesaka mentions the Guru-Cāumāsī Prāyaścitta for consuming food mixed with countless bodies, such as fermented food. This Sūtra mentions the Laghu-Cāumāsī Prāyaścitta for consuming food mixed with all bodies.
**The discussion of the aforementioned Sūtras is found in their respective Uddesakas. Food mixed with all bodies includes:**
1. **Food containing salt with awareness, where the salt has not been purified by fire.**
2. **Buttermilk or juice of fruits, etc., containing water with awareness, as long as they have not been purified by fire.**
3. **Dishes that have coriander leaves, etc., added after being removed from the fire.**
**Here, the mention is of substances containing countless living beings, as the mention of substances containing all bodies in the form of grains and seeds has already been made in the fourth Uddesaka. Therefore, food containing salt, water, and certain plants with awareness, and where the substance or time for purification by fire has not passed, is called food mixed with all bodies. If one becomes aware of this after consuming such food, one should not consume it. If one becomes aware after consuming some of it, one should spit out the remaining food and perform the Prāyaścitta.**
**Cārṇikāra has mentioned the existence of food, such as grains, containing various types of leaves, flowers, fruits, etc., with awareness. He has also mentioned the custom of householders adding salt immediately to food. If a monk consumes such food, it violates the principle of non-violence towards living beings, thus polluting the first Mahāvrat.**
**The Prāyaścitta for knowingly consuming such food, unknowingly consuming it, or consuming it due to a compelling reason, differs. The decision rests with the Gītartha. A table of Prāyaścitta is given at the beginning of the first Uddesaka.**