6.1.1. Expiatory Rites in Āpastamba-dharmasūtra

The Āpastamba-dharmasūtra classified sins as two types: Patanīya and Aśucikara. Patanīya are those which cause for the loss of caste and Aśucikara are those which cause impurity. One would not lose his caste through a touch of something inferior, which is considered as Aśucikara. Patanīya sins are theft (of gold), crimes with which one becomes an Abhiśastya (disreputable), complete loss, by neglect, of the Vedic learning that one secured by study, destruction of a foetus, incestuous connection with relations born of the same womb as one’s father or mother and with the children of such persons, drinking of Sura, intercourse with persons with whom intercourse is forbidden, intercourse with a female friend of one’s Guru (mother, father etc.) and with the wife of any stranger, and constant commission of immoral acts (Adharma).^[1] The Aśucikara sins referred to in Āpastamba-dharmasūtra include the cohabitation of Brahmin woman with Śūdras, eating flesh of forbidden animals (such as that of a dog, human beings, village cock, pig, and other carnivorous animals), eating the excrement of human beings, partaking of food left by a Śūdra and cohabitation of Brahmin with Apapātra woman.^[2]

The first Praśna of Āpastambadharmasūtra includes various expiations.^[3] Some expiation seen in this text is given here. If someone kills a Kṣatriya, he should give a thousand cows to erase the hostility, a hundred, if he kills a Vaiśya, and ten, if he kills a Śūdra. In addition, a bull is to be given in each case of expiation. The same applies for killing woman of these classes.^[4] Moreover it suggests expiatory rites for the killing of some animals and birds (Cakravāka goose, Haṃsa goose, frog, common mongoose etc.) and dog as same as one Śūdra.^[5] A man who has had sex with the wife of his Guru should cut off his penis together with his testicles and, holding them in his cupped hands, walk towards south without turning back or else he should end his life by embracing a red hot metal column.^[6] A man who has drunken liquor should drink burning hot liquor. People who have committed a theft, drunk liquor, had sex with the wife of Guru, so long as they have not killed a Brahmin, should eat a little every fourth meal time, dip into water at dawn, noon, and dusk, and remain standing during the day and seated at night. Such people get rid of their sin in three years.^[7]

If someone uses harsh words against whom one is not permitted to use such words, or if he tells a lie, he should eat food without milk, spices, or salt for three days, if he is a Śūdra, he should not eat for seven days.^[8] The expiation of students for breaking the rules and engaging in activities against their teacher is keeping silence for a year. They are allowed to speak only during their daily Vedic recitation, addressing their teacher or the teacher’s wife, and while begging.^[9] To a man, who was responsible for an abortion, the Prāyaścitta is that he should wear the skin of a dog or donkey with its hairy side out.^[10] Touching and speaking to a Caṇḍāla is a sin and one should perform expiations for such offences; for touching, one should submerge oneself completely in water, for speaking, speak to a Brahmin, for looking, look at the heavenly lights.^[11] While a person is asleep during the sunset, he should be made to sit at night, without eating and observing silence. The next morning he should bathe and then break his silence. While a person is asleep during sunrise, he should remain standing that day, without eating and observing silence.^[12] Āpastamba-dharmasūtra considers that theft is a serious sin. It suggests that after this sin, a thief confesses his sin in front of the king, the king shall kill him or he may throw himself into a fire or perform an arduous expiation in a year.^[13]