Therefore, the Scripture teaches that a sage should not act according to his will in matters of food, disregarding the Shastric injunctions. There is a text to that effect. — 460.

SUTRA III. 4. 31.

 

शब्दश्चातोऽकामचारे॥३.४.३१॥

śabdaścāto’kāmacāre ..3.4.31..

 

… Shabdah, there is a scriptural statement, Cha, and. .. Atah, hence, … Akamachare, as to non-proceeding according to liking.

 

 

COMMENTARY

 

Since permission to take all kinds of food is given only in times of distress, it follows that in ordinary times, the wise man should not act in opposition to the scriptural injunctions. There is a scriptural text or passage to that effect also in the Chchhandogya Upanishad, VII, 26. 2, we have the following:

Clean food leads to clarity of intellect. The clearness of brain conduces to firm meditation. When meditation is firm there is vision of the Divine and all ties are unloosened completely.

This text of the Chhandogya Upanishad is a clear prohibition of libertinism in matters of food. Therefore, the permission to take all kinds of food being confined to times of distress only, it follows that in ordinary times one must observe the Shastric injunctions.

Adhikarana VII — Of the three kinds of devotees

 

In the opening section of this Pada, it has been shown that the seekers of Vidya (Divine wisdom) are of three sorts, Svanishtha, Parinishthita and Nirapeksha. Now the author trios to answer the question, how for these devotees must observe the rules of caste and orders and whether they can observe them or not, after they have attained the Divine knowledge. He first examines a case of the Svanishtha devotee. In the Kausharava Shruti we have the following:

Even after the sage has obtained the vision of this Atman, he must perform Karmas (ceremonial works), without raising any doubt, because he will get thereby increase of bliss of the Self, in a well-regulated order.

Doubt: There arises the following doubt with regard to this Shruti: Should the Svanishtha devotee, who has obtained Divine knowledge, perform ceremonial works or not?

Purvapaksha: The object of all ritualistic Karmas is to obtain Vidya or Divine knowledge; and when that is obtained, where is then the necessity of performing Karmas again? It is a general rule that when the result is obtained, the previous acts are discontinued (when the food is cooked, the fire is no longer kept burning). Therefore, when Vidya is gained, the Karmas should not be performed any longer.

Siddhanta: The works of the Ashramas must be performed even after the attainment of Vidya, as is shown in the next Sutra.