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558 / Go. Sa. Jivakanda
Gatha 476-477
The protection of Samadhana Vratas is called 'Sheel'. The characteristic of Sheel is as follows:
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"The protection of all the Vratas taken with the Guru as witness, by one who is afraid of Samsara, is called Sheel." [Shrami Shravaka Pari. 12]
"The Muni-ishwaras say that Sheel is the non-violation of the Vratas taken earlier with the Jinas and Gurus as witnesses." [Poojyapad Shravakaachar]
It is called Sheel to not violate or to protect the Vratas taken earlier with the Guru as witness.
Doubt - What is Shalya?
Solution - 'Shrenaati Hinasti iti Shalya' is the etymology of the word Shalya. Shalya means a painful thing. When a thorn etc. pricks the body, it is called Shalya. Here, the painful feeling similar to it is taken from the word Shalya. Just as cotton etc. Shalya is obstructive to living beings, similarly, due to being the cause of obstruction related to the body and mind, the Karma-udaya-janit Vikar is also treated as Shalya, i.e. it is also called Shalya. This Shalya is of three types: Maya Shalya, Nidana Shalya and Mithyadarshan Shalya. Maya, Nikriti and Vachana, i.e. the attitude of cheating, is Maya Shalya. The desire for enjoyments is Nidana Shalya and the lack of faith in the principles is Mithyadarshan Shalya. He who is free from these three Shalyas is called Nishalya Vrati.
Doubt - One who is free from Shalya is Nishalya and one who observes Vratas is Vrati. One who is free from Shalya cannot be Vrati. Just as Devadatta cannot be a Chatri just because he has a stick in his hand?
Solution - It is necessary to have both the qualities to be a Vrati. If someone has not renounced Shalyas and has only abandoned the faults of violence etc., then he cannot be a Vrati. Here, such a Vrati is desired who has renounced Shalyas and accepted Vratas. Just as one who has a lot of ghee and milk is called a Gaayavala. If he does not have ghee and milk and has cows, then he is not called a Gaayavala. Similarly, one who is truthful, even if he has Vratas, cannot be a Vrati, but one who is Nishalya is a Vrati.
"The pain caused to the body and mind by the rise of Karma etc., is considered to be of three types: Maya, Mithya and Nidana." [Siddhantasarasangrah Pra. 4]
1. Sarvarthmidi 7.18.