Chapter 63 - On the different kinds of sin

The most henious sins are Brahmana-murder, wine-drinking, theft and commission of adultery with the wives of one’s Gurus^[1]. A man who associates with another who has committed any of the above sins is also guilty of a henious sin.

Murdering a woman or killing a cow is a sin of the next degree.

Commission of adultery by a man of the Sudra caste with a Brahmana woman is a sin of the first class, but wine-drinking by him does not come within it.

Not to bow down before a Brahmana is akin to murdering him, and not to show respect to superiors is also as bad as murdering them.

Recital of the Slokas (verses) of the Puranas by Sudras is as sinful as Brahmana-murder; so also is the giving of instructions in scripture by one who has not studied them.

Making distinctions of superiority or inferiority among the gods, or deprecating any one of them, is like murdering them, which, in other, words is committing suicide.

A plagiarist who passes other’s verses as his own commits equal sin with a wine-bibber, while a man who takes credit for other’s actions is as sinful as a Brahmana-murderer.

Those also who distort the meaning of scriptures are as answerable for doing so as a Brahmana-killer: so also are those who destroy the good fame of others, and those who content with men who are engaged in noble and meritorious deeds, and prevent them.

He who interferes with any one who is engaged in eating is as sinful as a man who commits suicide.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

For Gurus see Chapter IV page 16.