Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
The essence of the path of liberation for a being is to understand that all beings are dependent on earth, water, fire, and air. Each being has a distinct body, but plants are considered to have a common body, and therefore, their individual bodies are not distinct. This is why the term "beings" is used in this verse. The subtle body of a plant is of the form of a "nigoda," while the "badara" plant is both common and uncommon. To explain the different types of uncommon bodies, the verse mentions examples like grass, darbha, virana, trees like mango and ashoka, and seeds like rice and wheat. All these are considered to be beings with plant bodies. This understanding refutes the views of Buddhists and others. The fact that these beings, including earth, water, fire, and air, are indeed living beings is explained in detail in the first chapter of the Acharanga Sutra, titled "Shastraparijna." Therefore, it is not elaborated upon here.