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A श्रमण should not travel on high, low, uneven, rough paths, or where there are military camps, chariots, carts, or piles of grain. If it is absolutely necessary to travel on such a path due to unavoidable circumstances, they may take the support of a plant or a traveler's hand.
A श्रमण cannot touch green vegetation on an उत्सर्ग path. However, the exception of holding green vegetation, etc., is not for the purpose of harming the living beings in the plant kingdom, but for the sake of non-violence. If a श्रमण falls, they may suffer a broken limb or experience mental fluctuations. They may also harm other living beings by falling. Therefore, the exception in non-violence is mentioned keeping in mind both self and other forms of violence.
Similarly, a श्रमण cannot touch water with consciousness. However, they may go out for urination and defecation when the water is flowing rapidly and there is heavy rainfall. It is forbidden to forcibly restrain oneself from defecation and urination. This is because restraining oneself from defecation and urination can cause mental and physical distress, lead to diseases, and harm health, body, and self-control.
Just like the महाव्रत of non-violence, truth is also a life-vow for a श्रमण. The आचारांग also states that if a श्रमण is traveling and encounters a hunter, etc., and the hunter asks the श्रमण if they have seen any animals, etc., the श्रमण should remain silent in such a situation. If silence is not possible, they should say, "I don't know," even if they know. This is the exception path of truth.
In the वृत्ति of the सूत्रकृतांगसूत्र, Acharya शीलांक has clearly written that untruth spoken with a benevolent intention for self-control and secrecy is not a fault, but untruth spoken deceitfully to deceive others is a fault and therefore, despicable.
Like truth, in the practice of the महाव्रत of non-stealing, a श्रमण does not accept anything that is not given. However, if a situation arises where a श्रमण reaches a place where there are no facilities, and there is severe cold and rain, the श्रमण should first stay there without permission. They should then try to obtain permission afterwards.
Similarly, a श्रमण cannot touch a newborn girl to protect the महाव्रत of celibacy. However, the same श्रमण can save a drowning nun by catching her.
1. प्राचारांग 2 श्रुत० ईर्याध्ययन उ० 2.
योगशास्त्र स्वोपज्ञवृत्ति, third प्रकाश, 87th श्लोक. (a) आचारांग 2-1-3-3-129 वृत्ति also see.
(b) निशीथ चूर्णि भाष्य, गाथा 322 4. सूत्रकृतांग वृत्ति 1-8-19. 5. सादियं णो मुसं बूया, एसधम्मे बुसीमनो. -सूत्रकृतांग 1-8-19
व्यवहारसूत्र 9-11 बृहत्कल्पसूत्र, उ. 6 सूत्र-7-12
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