梵網經古迹記 2.92

2.92

Explanation: Although the five pungent roots are plants, their foul stench makes them difficult to approach, and the worthy and good avoid them; hence they are prohibited. Master Fazang says: 'Among these five, dāsuan is cultivated garlic. Some say jiucai and cong are scallions and leeks, and lancong is cultivated spring onion; the above three are commonly eaten in the human realm. Regarding gecong, the Erya says it is mountain leek, with slender stems and large leaves. The character should be ge (茖); ge (革) is incorrect. It exists in the northern regions, but not south of the Yangtze. As for xingqu (asafoetida), some say it is rape-turnip, but no textual evidence has been seen. Some say: south of the Yangtze its leaves resemble wild garlic, its roots and stems resemble leeks, and it does not exist in the northern regions. Another interpretation says: it is the medicine awei, named hiṅgu in Sanskrit.' Such are the traditions. These five pungent roots, except for severe illness of one's own or to bring benefit, must otherwise not be eaten. As the Mañjuśrīparipṛcchā-sūtra states: 'One must not eat garlic; if there is a cause and condition, one may eat it; if compounded into medicine to treat illness, it may be used.' Furthermore, the Avataṃsaka states: 'Within my body are eighty thousand families of worms (the Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna-sūtra says: nine hundred million per family); when my body is at peace and happy, they are also at peace and happy; when my body is hungry and suffering, they are also hungry and suffering.' Therefore, whatever a bodhisattva consumes is entirely for these worms, wishing to make them peaceful and happy, not out of greed for the flavor.