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Ratnakarandaka-śrāvakācāra
अन्नं पानं खाद्यं लेह्यं नाश्नाति यो विभावर्याम् । स च रात्रिभुक्तिविरतः सत्त्वेष्वनुकम्पमानमनाः ॥१४२ ॥
सामान्यार्थ - जो प्राणियों पर दयालु-चित्त होता हुआ रात्रि में अन्न, पेय, खाद्य और लेह्य को नहीं खाता (लेता) है वह रात्रिभुक्तिविरत प्रतिमाधारी श्रावक है।
The householder who, out of compassion for the living beings, abstains from consuming (the four kinds of food) - grains (anna, like rice and capātī), drinks (pāna, like water and buttermilk), savory food (khādya, like sweetmeat), and food for the taste buds (lehya, like cațanī and betel leaf) – after sunset, is to be known as the rātribhuktivirata śrāvaka (sixth stage).
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Acārya Amrtacandra's Purusārthasiddhyupāya:
रात्रौ भुनानानां यस्मादनिवारिता भवति हिंसा । हिंसाविरतैस्तस्मात् त्यक्तव्या रात्रिभुक्तिरपि ॥ १२९ ॥
Those who take meals at night necessarily commit himsā. Therefore, one who wishes to avoid himsā must renounce eating at night. रागाद्युदयपरत्वादनिवृत्ति तिवर्तते हिंसाम् । रात्रिं दिवमाहरतः कथं हि हिंसा न संभवति ॥ १३० ॥
Non observance of vows (non-renunciation) entails dependence on passions like attachment, and therefore, himsā is not thereby excluded. How can one who takes food day and night possibly avoid himsā?
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