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Jainism and Meat-Eating
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different meanings can be construed in varied ways by different writers and readers according to their own understanding and knowledge not only of the language but of the subject or Šāstras which they try to explain.
Though this subject has been dealt with in detail in stgefa 377 HIHET' published in Gujarati and Hindi by the writer of this article, and attempt has been made here to publish this article, in a concise form in English, with a view to draw the attention of Jaina and Non--Jaina scholars of 'Ardha-Māgadhi' and request them to evince interest in the subject and give their learned and well considered opinion on the interpretations given here.
Ācārānga, Daśavaikālika and Bhagavats are three of the old Jaina Sūtras. The first two of these are virtually the authoritative code of Ethics for the Jaina monks. The words अट्ठिअं, मंसं and मच्छं above referred to are used at certain places in these tow Sūtras, in which the observance of certain conditions is imposed on the monks regarding their vigilance while going out for and receiving a (food from door to door). Need it be said that those were the days when killing of animals for sacrifices at altars and meat-eating were very common among the people. And in Bhagavati Sūtra a certain mention about the medical use of a certain food has been interpreted into meat eating by some of the critics.
These interpretations, therefore, are open to discussion and require elucidation by the language experts.
Bering (Acārānga-sūtra) से भिक्खू वा (२) जाव समाणे से ज्जं पुण जाणेजा मंसं वा मच्छ वा भज्जिज्झमाणं पेहाए तेल्लपूययं वा आएसाए उवक्खडिज्जमाणं पेहाए णो खद्धं खद्धं उवसंकमित्तु ओभासेज्जा। णन्नत्थ गिलाणणीसाए। (६१९)२
Oh, monk or nun, know by this that if you come to know that at a certain house meat and fist are fried and cakes or buns are also cooked in oil for the entertainment of guests you need, not
