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[434]
[Nishīthasūtra]
12. If a monk criticizes a *parihārasthāna* (period of observance) after having observed it many times, whether it be a *māsika* (monthly), *yāvat* (as long as), or *pañcamāsika* (five-monthly), then he incurs a *māsika* to *pañcamāsika* *prāyaścitta* (penance) according to the *parihārasthāna* observed, if the criticism is without *māyā* (deceit). If the criticism is with *māyā*, then he incurs a *dvaimāsika* (two-monthly) to *pañcamāsika* *prāyaścitta* according to the *parihārasthāna* observed.
_ Thereafter, whether the criticism is with or without *māyā*, the same *pañcamāsika* *prāyaścitta* is incurred._
13. If a monk criticizes a *parihārasthāna* after having observed it once, whether it be a *cāturmāsīka* (four-monthly) or a *cāturmāsīka* with some extension, a *pañcamāsika* or a *pañcamāsika* with some extension, then he incurs a *cāturmāsīka* or a *cāturmāsīka* with some extension, a *pañcamāsika* or a *pañcamāsika* with some extension *prāyaścitta* according to the *parihārasthāna* observed, if the criticism is without *māyā*. If the criticism is with *māyā*, then he incurs a *pañcamāsika* or a *pañcamāsika* with some extension, or a *pañcamāsika* *prāyaścitta* according to the *parihārasthāna* observed.
_ Thereafter, whether the criticism is with or without *māyā*, the same *pañcamāsika* *prāyaścitta* is incurred._
14. If a monk criticizes a *parihārasthāna* after having observed it many times, whether it be a *cāturmāsīka* or a *cāturmāsīka* with some extension, a *pañcamāsika* or a *pañcamāsika* with some extension, then he incurs a *cāturmāsīka* or a *cāturmāsīka* with some extension, a *pañcamāsika* or a *pañcamāsika* with some extension *prāyaścitta* according to the *parihārasthāna* observed, if the criticism is without *māyā*. If the criticism is with *māyā*, then he incurs a *pañcamāsika* or a *pañcamāsika* with some extension, or a *ṣaḍmāsīka* (six-monthly) *prāyaścitta*.
_ Thereafter, whether the criticism is with or without *māyā*, the same *ṣaḍmāsīka* *prāyaścitta* is incurred._
Discussion: These fourteen sūtras describe the various options for giving *prāyaścitta* to a critic, according to the criticism, after he has observed the faults mentioned in the nineteen *uddeśakas* (topics).
A critic may criticize *prāyaścitta* places by observing them once or many times, and may also criticize many *prāyaścitta* places once or many times, either together or separately.
Some critics are sincere and make truthful criticisms, while others are deceitful. Therefore, the method of giving *prāyaścitta* to such critics is described here.