Shrimat Vijyasandsuri
104. Question:
How can one who has gone astray from the dharma be purified?
Answer:
The blessed Arhat, who is free from 18 defects, in order to purify the fallen persons has explained the shāstras, as, Sraddha jīt-Kalpa, Yatijit-kalpa, Nishith Kalpa, Vayavhāra. The aforesaid books describe 10 kinds of prāyashchitta (penances) for purifying fallen persons. The nature of purification takes with the nature of transgression in each particular case. The purificartory rites prescribed for a householder are different from those for the sādhus. One who takes the prescribed penance and then acts upon it, becomes purified like a clothing from which a blot is removed.
105. Question:
Many people make sacrifices to Parmeshvara in order to attain liberation moksha. Is it essential or not?
Answer:
Those who make sacrifices to Parmeshvara by killing living beings, are greatly mistaken because Parmeshvara is without passion, most merciful, always desireless. No work whatever pleases or displeases him. Thus to kill living beings and make sacrifices for him is a great sin. This practice has been brought into existence by most ignorant persons. This would appear from the Jainamata-vriksa compiled by me.
106. Question:
What bearing has dharma on the progress of the country?
Answer:
The country is a progressive one in which on account of the spread of dharma such good actions are done as to follow the rules of law, to have union among themselves, to do good to others, to be kind to all living beings, to speak truth, not to cheat or defraud, to acquire knowledge always, to lead a contented life, to avoid committing theft, adultery, taking abhaksha, drinking prohibited things, practising superstitious rites. The progress of a country is impossible without dharma.
107. Question:
How should the king and the customs be followed?
Answer:
If the King gives legal orders they ought to be followed and the useful customs put in vogue by good persons must certainly be followed. The customs the non-observance of which is liable to cause material and spiritual loss to us by the country city or community, ought to be followed.
