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[198] This section begins with the process of body formation as described in the Prajñāpanā Sūtra. At the time of their first birth, the twenty-four Dandaka-bodied beings begin to take *āhāra* (food). Subsequently, their bodies develop. The *yudgala* (atoms) are absorbed from all sides, transforming into the body, senses, etc. When the senses are nourished by *āhāra*, they become stimulated, and the being engages in *paricāraṇā* (activity), followed by *vikriyā* (reaction). In Devas, *vikriyā* comes first, followed by *paricāraṇā*. In *ekendriya* (one-sensed) and *vikaleindriya* (impaired-sensed) beings, there is *paricāraṇā* but no *vikriyā*. In *paricāraṇā*, the being begins to consume all objects, including sound, etc.
*After discussing *āhāra*, the text mentions *ābhōganirvṛttita* and *anābhōganirvṛttita* *āhāra*. The commentator explains that *ābhōganirvṛttita* refers to "taking food with mental intention" (*manōpraṇidhāna pūrvakam āhāram gṛhṇanti*), meaning taking food with mindfulness. *Anābhōganirvṛttita* *āhāra* is the opposite, referring to food taken without mindfulness. For example, *ekendriya* beings are not adept at acquiring mental wealth (*manōdravya labdhi*), so they do not have *ābhōga* (mindfulness) in their consumption. However, since beings with the sense of taste have a mouth, they have a desire to eat, so *ekendriya* beings are considered to have *anābhōganirvṛttita* *āhāra*. Except for *ekendriya* beings, all other beings take both *ābhōganirvṛttita* and *anābhōganirvṛttita* *āhāra*.
*The text then discusses which beings are aware of and perceive the ingested *āhārya pudgala* (food atoms) and which are not. According to the saying "āhārasuddhau sattvasuddhiḥ" (purity of food leads to purity of the soul), the text discusses the *adhyavasaya sthāna* (places of determination) after *āhāra* because of the connection between food and determination. There are countless types of *adhyavasaya sthāna* in the twenty-four Dandakas, both *praśasta* (excellent) and *apraśasta* (inferior). *Sthitibandha* (state-binding) and *anubhāgabandha* (part-binding) are closely related to *paricāraṇā*. This is why the Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama extensively discusses the *adhyavasaya sthāna* of *karma* (action) in relation to *sthitibandha* and *anubhāgabandha*.
*The text then discusses *samyaktva ābhigāmi* (those who are on the path of right faith), *mithyātva ābhigāmi* (those who are on the path of wrong faith), and *samyag-mithyātva ābhigāmi* (those who are on the path of both right and wrong faith) in the twenty-four Dandakas. This discussion in the context of *paricāraṇā* suggests that *samyaktva* and *mithyātva* have distinct effects on the results of *paricāraṇā*. The *paricāraṇā* performed by a *samyaktva* being and the *paricāraṇā* performed by a *mithyātva* being will have a night-and-day difference, and accordingly, there will be a difference in *karmabandha* (karma-binding).
*Up to this point, the five *dvāra* (gates) have been presented as the background for *paricāraṇā*. 1. *Paṇāvaṇā Sutta* (Introduction) Bha. 2, p. 145 2. (a) *Paṇṇavaṇā Sutta* Bha. 2 (Introduction-Appendix) p. 145 (b) *Prajñāpanā* Malayavṛtti, p. 545 (c) *Paṇṇavaṇā Sutta* Bha. 2 (Original Text-Commentary) p. 146 3. (a) *Paṇṇavaṇā Sutta* Bha. 2 (Introduction) p. 146-147 (b) *Paṇṇavaṇā Sutta* Bha. 1 (Original Text-Commentary) p. 146