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Ratnakarandaka-śrāvakācāra
votary (urati). Now it is contended thus. 'A person is free from stings in the absence of stings, and one who observes vows is called a votary. But a person free from stings is not fit to be called a votary. For instance, a man who has a staff cannot be said to carry an umbrella.' The reply is this. The votary is one who is characterized by both the attributes, namely observing vows and being free from stings. So by merely practising vows, one cannot be called a votary, unless one is free from stings. What is meant is that, in the absence of stings, one who observes vows is a votary. For instance, a person is said to be rich in cows when he has plenty of milk and ghee. He cannot be said to be rich in cows in the absence of milk and ghee, even if he has several cows. So also, even if a person observes vows, he cannot be called a votary if he is not free from stings.
Jain, S.A. (1960), “Reality”, p. 200.
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