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Bhagwan Mahavir ]
Shravaka. It does not become you to say like this. Your anger for me is quite groundless. Of rcourse, I asked you to prepare food for me yesterday, but later on my idea was changed, I thought of observing *Paushadha-Vow foregoing four kinds of food. This was certainly not a bad thing. At the same time, my share of food, which I did not take, must have satisfied the appetite of some other man. I do not know what makes you so angry and irritated with me ? "Lord Mahavira supported the statement of Shankhagji and said, " - Oh, Shravakas, You must try to be a little more calm and quiet Shankha is the staunch believer in religion. He loves religion more than his own life and is always anxious for religious awakening and progress.
After this, Gautama Svami asked the Lord to tell something about religious awakening and the Lord accordingly described it at length. Then Shankhaji asked the Lord to tell what Karmic bondage was caused by anger; and the Lord said as the following:
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"There are eight kinds of Karmas:
(1) Jnanavaraniya ( which obstructs the right knowledge) (2) Darshanavaraniya ( which obstructs the right faith) (3) Vedaniya ( which determines the pleasant or painful character of feelings)
'Paushadha' is the name of a vow whose object is to strengthen soul by knowledge that is acquired by study and meditation of the truth. It is necessary for the observance of this vow that the observer should fosego all the four kinds of food or should take only pure water. The paushadha vow which is observed by taking Prashuka food is called the practice of Daya (mercy) to-day. It is practised at many places.
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