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[300]
One should not bow down to those who are not worthy of being bowed down to, even if they are mother, father, guru, king, or anyone else.
A wise muni, who is well-established in meditation, restrained, endowed with the five samitis and three guptis, and who is far from non-restraint, should be bowed down to.
[Nishīthasūtra
Darshan, knowledge, conduct, austerity, and humility are always present in you.
Those who are harmful to the Jain religion are not worthy of being bowed down to.
[1191]
Meaning: Those who are always in the state of parśvastha, etc., and who are harmful to the Jain religion, are not worthy of being bowed down to.
Bowing down to them or praising them strengthens their state of negligence, and for this reason, atonement is mentioned in these sutras.
Even though they are not worthy of being bowed down to, they may have some praiseworthy qualities, such as intelligence, humility, generosity, devotion, social skills, pleasant speech, eloquence, and pleasantness. However, even if they have these qualities, one should not praise them if they are not striving for restraint, but should remain neutral. If one praises them, the atonement mentioned in the sutras will be incurred.
- Ni. Bha. Ga. 4363-64
1. Kāhiya - (Kāthika) -
The nature of parśvastha, avasanna, kuśīla, samsakta, and nityaka has been discussed in the fourth uddeśaka, and one should learn about it from there.
The nature of kāthika, prekṣaṇīka, māmaka, and samprasārika is as follows:
"Sāj઼jhāyādi karaṇijje jōge mōttu jō desakahāadi kahāto kaheti sō "kāhiō" ।"
One who keeps telling stories like desakathā, etc., while neglecting necessary duties like svādhyāya, etc., is called a 'kāthika'. - Cūrṇi Bha. 3, p. 398
One who tells religious stories for the sake of food, clothing, utensils, fame, or worship, or one who always keeps telling religious stories, is also called a 'kāthika'. - Bha. Ga. 4353
If one keeps telling religious stories without paying attention to time, then one cannot perform pratilekhan, pratikramṇa, svādhyāya, dhyāna, etc., at the appropriate time, which leads to the restrained life being polluted by many faults.