________________
278
TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
is correct and that too is correct'—this sort of unsteadiness of intellect is called 'inconstancy of understanding'. Such unsteadiness of intellect does not allow the spiritual realizer to remain firm on some one principle and is therefore of the nature of a failure of conduct.
(4-5) To praise and to develop intimacy with those holding a perverted view are respectively called 'praising those holding a false view' and 'developing intimacy with those holding a false view. Even in persons suffering from the defect of holding a deluded view virtues like thoughfulness, renunciation etc. are quite often present. When on the basis of an attraction towards those virtues of his and without discriminating between merits and defects such a person is praised or intimacy is developed with him then the danger is that the spiritual realizer not yet ripe in discrimination might deviate from his adopted doctrine. Hence it is that praising those holding an alien view and developing intimacy with those holding an alien view are called failures of conduct. The spiritual realizer who with a feeling of impartiality and discrimination views merits as merits and defects as defects, in his case it is not necessary that the praise in question or the intimacy in question must prove harmful. These five failures of conduct are common to all vratins—whether laymen or monks— for samyaktva is a characteristic common to them both. 18.
The Failures of Conduct Connected with the Vratas and śīlas Enumerated and Described :
Connected with the different vratas and śīlas there are five failures-of conduct each. Taken in order they are as follows : 19.
Binding, injuring, piercing the body, loading excessive burden, denying food and drink-these five are the failures of conduct connected with the minor scale vrata of nonviolence. 20.
False instruction, false accusation in private, forgery, mis-appropriating a pledged property, divulging someone's
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
