Answer

In Jain tradition, peacock feathers used for the Digambar picchī are not meant to be taken by killing the bird or plucking them forcefully. They are traditionally collected only after they naturally fall or are shed. So when people say they were “collected from the fields,” it usually means they were gathered from places where peacocks naturally live and move about, not harvested in a violent way.

Explanation

The key point is ahimsa.

• A Digambar saint’s feather broom is for gently removing tiny living beings from the path.
• The feathers themselves must be obtained without injury to the peacock.
• “From the fields” is often a loose expression meaning from open natural areas, forests, grasslands, or places where feathers can be found after shedding.

So there is no contradiction if the feathers were naturally shed and then collected.

Spiritual Understanding

Jain Dharma is very careful about means, not just the end.

• Even a useful object should be obtained without violence.
• The purity of intention matters.
• The picchī symbolizes compassion, restraint, and deep respect for all life.

Takeaway

So, in Jain understanding, peacock feathers for Digambar saints are to be collected non-violently, after natural shedding. “Collected from the fields” should be understood in that harmless sense, not as plucking or killing.