Sutra 9
स नगराभ्याशे प्रभूतमुण्डजटिलान्तेवासी शाकं यवमुष्टिं वा मासद्विमासान्तरं प्रकाशमश्नीयात् गूढमिष्टमाहारम् ॥ कZ_०१.११.१४ ॥
sa nagarābhyāśe prabhūtamuṇḍajaṭilāntevāsī śākaṃ yavamuṣṭiṃ vā māsadvimāsāntaraṃ prakāśam aśnīyāt gūḍham iṣṭam āhāram
Stationed near a city with many shaven- and matted-haired resident disciples, he should eat publicly only vegetables or a handful of barley at intervals of one or two months, while privately consuming preferred food.
FAQs
It strengthens the ascetic reputation (a credibility asset) and reduces observable routines that could expose support channels, while private food preserves health and effectiveness.
City-edge placement enables access to urban information flows with lower scrutiny and easier withdrawal, while maintaining a plausible hermitage/ashram setting.