Sutra 9

Devanagari script

स नगराभ्याशे प्रभूतमुण्डजटिलान्तेवासी शाकं यवमुष्टिं वा मासद्विमासान्तरं प्रकाशमश्नीयात् गूढमिष्टमाहारम् ॥ कZ_०१.११.१४ ॥

Transliteration

sa nagarābhyāśe prabhūtamuṇḍajaṭilāntevāsī śākaṃ yavamuṣṭiṃ vā māsadvimāsāntaraṃ prakāśam aśnīyāt gūḍham iṣṭam āhāram

Translation

ನಗರದ ಸಮೀಪ ಅನೇಕ ಮುಂಡಿತ-ಜಟಾಧಾರಿ ಅಂತೇವಾಸಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ್ದು, ಅವನು ಒಂದು ಅಥವಾ ಎರಡು ತಿಂಗಳ ಅಂತರದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಕೇವಲ ಸೊಪ್ಪು ಅಥವಾ ಯವದ ಒಂದು ಮುಷ್ಟಿ ಮಾತ್ರ ತಿನ್ನಬೇಕು; ಗುಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದ ಆಹಾರವನ್ನು ಸೇವಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

सःhe (that person/agent)

नगर-अभ्याशेin the vicinity of the city

प्रभूतin large number / abundant (i.e., where there are many)

मुण्ड-जटिल-अन्तेवासीa resident disciple/novice (appearing as) shaven-headed and matted-haired

शाकम्vegetables/greens

यव-मुष्टिम्a handful of barley

वाor

मास-द्वि-मास-अन्तरम्at intervals of one month or two months

प्रकाशम्openly, in public

अश्नीयात्should eat

गूढम्secretly, concealed

इष्टम्desired, preferred

आहारम्food, meal

Entities Mentioned

nagara (city)

antevāsī (resident disciples)

muṇḍa/jaṭila (ascetic types)

FAQs

What is the operational purpose of rare public eating?

It strengthens the ascetic reputation (a credibility asset) and reduces observable routines that could expose support channels, while private food preserves health and effectiveness.

Why place him near (not inside) the city?

City-edge placement enables access to urban information flows with lower scrutiny and easier withdrawal, while maintaining a plausible hermitage/ashram setting.