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INTRODUCTION.
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least the attempt to read the Institute before this propitious assembly.
The five following duties are those, which, without fail, must be performed during the reading of the work. The reverencing of the images of deified saints-venerating the Sages—the yearly confession-nutual forgiveness of faults—the right kind of austerity (i.e. fasting one whole day, and eating but one meal on the preceding and succeeding day)* Besides these, the following religious acts are incumbent upon the Srávakast. The writing of the Kalpa Sútra, text and comment, which is a special duty, since the hearing alone may become the means of liberation after the third transmigration. They should perform the fasts as far as their ability permits. Everywhere in the city proclamation is to be made by sound of trumpet, forbidding to kill any living creaturet.
* चैत्यपरिपाठो समस्तमाधुवंदनं सांवत्सरिकप्रतिक्रमणं मिथः साधर्मिकं शमणं अष्टमंतपश्च + Auditors, i.e. the Jain laity.
This is called the 379TTEtqata Asoka’s famous edicts seem to have been such a proclamation committed to writing, and engraved on stone to render them more permanent. From this and other places it appears that on the Jain laity the following five duties are at all times incumbent :-Mercy to all living creatures, the giving of gifts, the cherishing of pious
