Handbook of Jainology

Author(s): Bhuvanbhanusuri
Publisher: Divya Darshan Trust

Page 164

Desh virathi (partial renunciation) the twelve vows 119 Question: When Sachitta articles are changed into achitta articles many jivas like Agnikay perish. Compared to this what harm is there in eating sachitta articles ? Answer : It is true that when Sachitta articles are changed into achitta some jivas perish, but if you use sachitta articles, they die directly by your consumption. This is not only unkind but harmful kind of cruelty. Dharma is related to the tenderness of the heart. Compared to Achit, the Sachit are capable of causing greater derogations and distortions. Therefore, the Sachit articles should be discarded. Question : What are achitta articles ? Answer : Boiled water; well-cooked vegetables; fruits or juices are cooked or ripened 48 minutes after they are cut; or after seeds are separated from them; (Ripe bananas do not have seeds so they are achits even if they are not cut. Salt obtained from distillation etc. are achits. At the end, eating only one sachit, all other sachit articles should be discarded on festival days, chaurmasi (celebration of the four months) etc. According to this vow, 22 articles are prohibited and 32 anantkais are to be discarded. In the same manner 15 Karmadans are to be discarded (this point will be explained later in the next chapter).
According to the seventh vow, you must note down the names of food-grain, vegetables, fruits, dry fruits, spices etc. and discard the other ones throughout your life. This rule has to be accepted and acted upon. In the same manner, it will be said later in the chapter dealing with rules relating to vratas that throughout your lives 14 rules are to be observed since they prescribe limits. For example, you should not consume more than 20 dravyas per day. The rule fixes the limit for each day.
THE EIGHTH VRATA (THE ANARTHDANDA VIRAMAN VRAT). (DISCARDING UNNECESSARY THINGS) !
In your life, you must discard unnecessary things. Otherwise, you will have to suffer punishment unnecessarily. There are four such unnecessary things (1) Evil contemplations; (2) Giving articles with which sins may be committed;