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## Nishith Sutra 4.24
A monk who is attached to food, equipment, bed, and place, and who is eager for favorable benefits and complains when they are not received, who is fickle in his standing, sitting, speech, and thoughts, who changes his conduct without the reasons stated in the scriptures, who is slow in observing his vows, who speaks in front of teachers and those holding high positions, or those who have many jewels, thus showing disrespect, who acts contrary to their instructions and wishes, and who takes pleasure in slandering and gossiping about others to defeat them, is ineligible for the recitation of scriptures.
## Further Explanation
Those who are arrogant, use abusive language, and are ungrateful are also considered ineligible.
The violation of the rules and prohibitions mentioned in the Brihatkalpa Uddesa 4 leads to atonement according to the first two sutras. This means that both the reciter who does not give the recitation to the eligible person and the reciter who gives the recitation to the ineligible person are subject to atonement.
Not giving the recitation to the eligible person leads to the decline of the scriptures, and giving the recitation to the ineligible person is a misuse of the scriptures. Therefore, it is essential to exercise discretion in both cases.
## Interpretation of "Patta" and "Vyakt"
The first two sutras describe the "eligible" person in terms of their qualities, while the subsequent two sutras describe the "eligible" person in terms of their physical form.
The commentary explains that a monk is considered "vyakt" (eligible) when the hair on their body, including eyebrows and mustache, has grown. Alternatively, a monk is considered "vyakt" after the age of 16.
Such a "vyakt" monk is not given the recitation of the Kalika scriptures (Angasutra and Chhedasutra). The commentary explains that young monks lack the capacity to fully comprehend and retain the scriptures. The commentator uses the analogy of an unbaked pot to illustrate this point. Just as an unbaked pot is placed in fire to be hardened but not filled with water, young monks are nurtured through education and study but are not given the recitation of these scriptures until they are mature and eligible.
The word "patta" in these sutras has two meanings: "eligible" and "received." Similarly, "vyakt" has two meanings: "age-eligible" and "eligible by virtue of attaining the vows." A monk who is 16 years old is considered "age-eligible," while a monk who has received the vows for three years and is stable in his vows is considered "eligible by virtue of attaining the vows."
These alternative meanings are explained in the commentary. Due to these alternative meanings, or perhaps due to other received traditions, the number of sutras in these four sutras varies in different manuscripts. Some manuscripts have six sutras, while others have eight. In these manuscripts, the sutras "pattam - prapattam" are repeated twice or thrice, and the alternative meanings are linked to different sutras.