Tattvartha Sutra: 07.17

07.17 Māranāntīkim Sanlekhanā Joshitā

Audio:
Sanskrit:	मारणान्तिको संलेखनां जोषिता।
Hindi:	वह मारणान्तिक संलेखना व्रत का भी आराधक होता है।

07.17

English:

The laymen may also observe the fast unto death.

Sanlekhanā (fast unto death) is an additional restraint, which can be observed in the lay as well as monastic cadre. This restraint is not much prevalent at present. In Shwetāmbar Murtipujak sect it almost does not prevail, while it is resorted to at times in Sthānakwāsi and Digambar sects. This restraint is misunderstood in the western world and is often ridiculed as suicidal. A person is induced to commit suicide, when he becomes desperate on account of some disease, depression, dejection etc. Sanlekhanā, on the other hand, is undertaken with equanimity and total peace of mind. It is resorted to only when one realizes that his body is no longer useful for spiritual pursuit on account of old age, infirmity etc. Alternately, it can be resorted to when one feels that whatever he wanted to achieve in the life has been accomplished and there is no purpose in prolonging the life. Thus it is, in no way, suicidal.

Inclusive of Sanlekhanā there are thus 13 restraints for lay people. Ideally, they are to be observed by those, who have gained the right perception. While observing them, one may come across defaults, lapses etc. Such defaults and lapses can result in breach or transgression of the restraints. For instance, deliberately hurting or killing a living being is a breach of non­violence, while unintentional violence is a transgression. Jainism terms that as Atichār. sutras 18 to 32 deal with such transgressions.