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[Nishīthasūtra] If one were to take food from these people, there is a possibility of them committing violence against plants or animals, or suffering from hunger, etc., due to the lack of other means in the forest. Therefore, one should not take food from them. The sūtra uses three similar words, but their meanings are slightly different.
A forest that is very far from settlements like villages, towns, etc. is called "aranya". "Vana" refers to a forest that is near villages, towns, etc.
"Aṭavī" is a long forest that is full of dangers like thieves, etc., and takes many days to cross, with no settlements in between.
Even if one were to take food from people returning from "aṭavī", if there is a possibility of crossing the "aṭavī" in 1-2 days, they may still take longer due to thieves, etc., or getting lost. Therefore, one should completely avoid taking food from those who have traveled through "aṭavī".
The sūtra uses two words in relation to "aṭavī", both of which refer to a person who is staying in "aṭavī". However, if someone is preparing to go to "aṭavī" or has crossed "aṭavī" and reached a village, etc., then one should not consider taking food from them as a transgression.
In some copies, two sūtras are found in place of this one sūtra. The main reason for this is a scribal error.
## The Prāyaścitta for Saying "Vasurātnīka" and "Avasurātnīka"
13. A monk who calls a person with excellent character qualities as having poor character qualities, or approves of someone who says so.
14. A monk who calls a person with poor character qualities as having excellent character qualities, or approves of someone who says so. (He incurs the prāyaścitta of Laghu-Cāumāsī.)
## Discussion
After taking saṃyama, many practitioners remain engaged in pure worship for their entire lives. Many practitioners become less dedicated to saṃyama due to their declining physical abilities or changes in their ideology. Some even start to transgress the limits of saṃyama and do not purify themselves. Thus, there are different stages of practitioners.
Monks who practice saṃyama with pure worship are wealthy with the treasure of saṃyama. Therefore, they are referred to as "Vasurātnīka" in this sūtra. Those who transgress the limits of saṃyama and do not purify themselves are not wealthy with the treasure of saṃyama. Therefore, they are referred to as "Avasurātnīka" in the sūtra.