Chapter 3: The Contents of the Vishnu Smriti

CHAPTER III THE CONTENTS OF THE VISNUSMRTI It is well known that the dharmasastras and the smrtis deal with varieties of topics. It may perhaps be assumed that the smrtis consist of a catalogue of duties and responsibilities of one as an individual as well as member of the society one belongs. The Visnusmrti, being one of the mula smrtis, is also not exceptions to the fundamental principles of the smrti literature. God Visnu himself revealed the visnusmrti to Goddess Earth after she was lifted from the Nether region The work I: by the God himself in his Boar incarnation. consists of one hundred chapters. Chapter The legend of lifting of Goddess Earth by the celestial Boar (The Varaha incarnation of Visnu) No of Sutras 65 is described. (i) Description of Yajnavaraha. (ii) Lifting of Goddess Earth, (iii) Goddess Earth approaches Kasyapa, (iv) description of Goddess earth, (v) Reply of Kasyapa, (vi) Goddess Earth praises Visnu, (vii) God Visnu starts instructions on dharma.

71 Chapter-II: Description of four castes and their respective duties. (1) Division of four castes, (ii) dharma of four castes. The first and the second chapters may perhaps be treated as Introduction to the work i.e. Visnusmrti. No of Sutras-17 Then starts the section litigation (technically known as Vyavahara), from the third chapter. Chanter i) III. Duties of the king (rajadharma) - appointment of officers to run the Government. ii) fiscal policy (taxation). iii) the prakrtis of a country (rastra). iv) four expedients of the king (the principles of samadana - bheda and danda, v 1 the vyasanas-hunting, playing of dice etc.; vi) principle of investment and No of Sutras * expenditure of wealth; vii) investment of lost property, if it is recovered; viii) appointment of purohita; ix) discharge of justice; x) xi) xii) appointment of council of ministers (sabhyas); the king should be well acquianted with the sastras; principles of land grant. xiii) King should adopt measures for self-protection. xiv) principles of punishment and the description of the features of rules of law (danda).

72 Chapter - 1) IV; Discusses principles of weights and measures. different kinds of coins and legal tender, No. of Sutras-14 ii) among of cash to be paid as fines in the form of prathama, Madhyama and uttama sahasa. Chapter - V: Punishments for various crimes. i) punishment for mahapataka and different modes of punishment, (ii) Punishment for maladministration and for making false document (forgery), (iii) punishment for giving poison, arson, theft, killing of women and children, (vi) Punishment for stealing of food grains, gold etc. (V) Punishment for encouraging theft and giving shelter to thieves and other notorious persons, (vi) Punishment for inflicting physical injury, (vii) punishment for reviling i.e. injury by words (Vakparusya), (viii) Punishment for adultery. (ix) Duties of men and women, (x) Punishment for killing different kinds of animals and creatures both domestic and wild, (xi) Punishment for cutting trees and destroying forests etc., (xii) Punishment for stealing different kinds of animals, food-grains, gold, silver, cotton, milk and other kinds of wealth both cash and kinds. (xiii) Punishment for not honouring the honourables, (xiv) Punishment for eating and feeding prohibited food etc., (xv) Punishment for commission of crimes No. of Sutra-197

73 by groups, (xvi) Punishment for selling grains with wrong measures and for selling adulterated food, (xvii) Punishment for playing dice, lottery and bating etc., (xviii) Judicial principles to try criminal cases such as killing of animals, destroying crops, for non payment of wages to labourer, (xix) Punishment for divorce, (xx) Punishment for selling ownerless property, (xxi) Punishment for encroachment, tresspass and damaging places of worship, (xxii) Punishment for pseudo-physicians for maltreatment or wrong treatment of diseases, (xxiii) Punishment for non-repayment of loans, (xxiv) Punishment for false witnesses and bribery in official circles (xxv) Punishment for invalid and illegal mortgage, (xxvi) Exceptions to some forms of Punishment (xxvii) No punishment for killing atatayi and characteristics of an atatayi. Chapter VI: In this chapter the author discusses different rates of interest on loan, mode of security etc. (i) rates of interest on loan (ii) exceptions on interest in case of mortgage, (IIi) limits of interest, (iv) duties and responsibilities of both lender and borrower, (v) procedure for lending and borrowing, NO. of Sutra-43 (vi) repayment of loan should be made by the sons if the father is dead, (vii) surety.

74 Chapter VII : Documents and its validity. (i) three kinds of documents, (ii) invalid document or unauthorised document, (iii) procedure for determining the validity of a doubtful document. No. of Sutras Chapter - VIII : Witnesses and their qualifications. (i) disqualifications of a witness, (ii) qualifications of a witness, (iii) necessity of witness, (iv) determinant features of a deceitful witness, (v) prayascitta for frandulent witness, No. of Sutra-41 (vi) procedure for taking witness, (vii) procedure for determining the validity of witness in case of doubt r contradiction. Chapter IX $ - (i) General rules of ordeals, (ii) mode of making affidavit, (iii) application NO. of Sutra 33 of ordeal according to status of the criminal. Chapter - ✗ 3 Ordeal by the balance (dhata-tula) (i) quality of the balance, (ii) holder of balance, (iii) procedure No. 7 sutra-13 for measurement by a balance.

75 Chapter XI : (i) Ordeal by Fire. preparation of agnimandala for ordeal, (ii) procedure of fire ordeal, (iii) recitation of incantation and charms. No. of sutral, Chapter XII : Ordeal of water. (i) qualities of water, (ii) charms to be recited for ordeal of water. Chapter XIII : Ordeal of poison. (i) qualities of poison to be administered, (ii) quantity and mode of poison to be administered, (iii) incantations to be recited for poisonous ordeal. Chapter XIV : Ordeal of sacred water (kosa) No. of sutraNo. of sutra-7 (i) procedure of administering the ordeal of kosa (ii) Observation of effects of kosa, >f NO. sutra-5 weddingbedden g (iii) charms to be applied for ordeal of kosa. Chapter XV : Twelve kinds of sons and their shares in ancestral property. (i) features of aurasa, khetraja, putrikaputra, paunarbhava, kanina, gudhaja, sahodha, dattaka, krita, svayamdatta, apaviddha, whose generator is not known (yatrakvacanotpadita: sons, (ii) inheritance who will inherit the ancestral property, persons not fit for No. of Jura-47

76 inheritance, (iii) persons who will offer libations (pinda) to the manes, (iv) eulogy of a son. Chapter XVI : Sons born of mixed marriage. (1) castes of offsprings according to obverse (anuloma) and reverse (pratiloma) marriage, (ii) names of sons born out of reverse (pratiloma) marriage, (111) profession of such sons. Chapter No. of sutra 18 XVII : Partition and devolution of property. (1) Father divides the property among the children, (ii) partition of the property of grand father (paitamahadhana), (iii) share of sons born after No. of Sutra-23 partition, (iv) inheritor of property of a sonless person, (v) partition of property technically known as stridhana, (vi) specialities of partition of paternal property. Chapter XVIII : Determination of share of property among the coperciners. (1) devolution of property among the children born from the wife of the same castes and from the wife of the obverse order (anuloma), (ii) partition of No. of Sutra-44 property of an issueless person among the wives of different castes, (iii) property that cannot be devided.

77 The section on traditional usages and customs technically known as acara from the chapter XIX onwards. - 1. Section on impurity and polution (asauca). Chapter XIX : Cremation of the dead. (i) The dead body should be carried out by the sons. (ii) time and form of navasraddha, (iii) asthisancayana should be performed No. of sutra-24 on the fourth day, (iv) observances during impurity are discussed, (v) rituals to be performed at the end of impurity, (vi) eulogy of Brahmanas. Chapter XX : Discussion on the four yugas, Manvantaras, Kalpas, Mahakalpa etc. Prohibition of grief (soka) at the death of relations. (1) division of time in the form of day, night, month, years etc., (ii) division of yugas and kalpas, (iii) age of Brahman, (iv) no one can avoid the movement of time (Kalagati), (v) the No. sutra-53 anityatva of jiva is discussed here, and as such one should not lament for the death of one's relatives, one should offer graddha for the dead. XXI: Obsequial ceremonies. Chapter - (i) procedure of performing ekoddista. One should feed brahmanas, who are sitting facing to the north after worshipping them with incense, garland, cloths and ornaments

78 at the expiry of impurity. Pinda should be offered to one, (ii) procedure for performing sapindana. At the end of one year from the day of death, one should feed brahmanas with gods in the name of the dead, his father, grand father and greatNo. of sutra-73 grandfather. agnaukarana, avahana and padya should be performed in this ceremony. Four pindas should be offered. The sapindikarana of women also be performed. Sapindikarana may also be performed on the thirteenth day from the death. Chapter XXII : Time of impurity at the birth and death of relations. one (i) impurity continues for ten days for a brahmana at the birth and death. The period of impurity for a ksatriya is twelve days, for a vaisya is 15 days and for a sudra is month i. e.; 30 days, (11) determination of sapindya. sapindata ceases after seven generations. The period of sapindata varies in the opinion of various authorities, (iii) prohibition and inhibition during impurity, (iv) expiation (prayascitta) to be observed for eating in the house of a person who is impure, (v) impurity for miscarriage, (vi) impurity at the death of children and at the birth of stilborn baby, (vii) the patriarchal relatives of a married lady do not become immure at her death, (viii) discussion on asauca samkara, (ix) impurity of sons of different kinds, (x) impurity at the death of preceptor etc.

79 (xi) exception to impurity in some cases-such as death caused by accident, by fire, lightning, war or fighting etc., (xii) no impurity at the death of one who commits suicide or who is defined or condemned (patita), (xiii) purificatory rites to be performed by persons No. of sutra-93 who cuts the rope of the person who dies by hanging, who carries or touches the dead body and so on, (xiv) other purificatory rites, (xv) purity of women after mense, (xvi) three kinds of liquor gaudi, maddhvi and paisti and other varieties of liquor are discussed, (xvii) purity of food (annasauca) is the most important of all purities and causes of purity. Then starts the second section entitled section on purification (suddhiprakarana) and purificatory rites to be performed for expiation from Chapter XXIII. Chapter XXIII: Purification of articles (dravyasuddni). (i) severe or excessive impurity caused by wine, liquor, and other reasons, (ii) purification of articles articles made of horn, tusk and bones are purified by abrading or scraping (taksana). Wooden and earthen vessels should be abandoned. No. of Sutra-61. purification of other articles is also discussed, (iii) purification of sacrificial utensils is

80 discussed, (iv) purification of touch (sparsa suddhi), (v) purification of clothes, utensils made of brass and other metals. (vi) purification of edible articles, (vii) purification of roads and paths, tanks and wells (viii) things which are naturally purified, (ix) of house and books, (x) cow is always pure. Chapter purification XXIV : Description of marriageable girls, marriage of girls of different castes with men of different castes. The section of samskara starts from this chapter upto the 32nd. (i) marriage of different castes and number of brides, (ii) marriage in obverse (anuloma) and reverse (pratiloma) order, (iii) prohibition of marriage in same gotra or lineage. Marriage is prohibited within seven degrees from father and five degrees from mother. No. of Sutra-41 (iv) disqualifications of a girl to be married, (v) eight kinds of marriage - brahma, daiva, arsa, prajapatya, gandharva, asura, raksasa and paisaca. The first four kinds are honoured by all and valid, gandharva also is honourable for a kstriya. The last three are censured by all, (vi) who are eligible to give a girl in marriage? (vii) marriage of a girl before puberty is prescribed.

81 Chapter XXV : (1) Duties and responsibilities of married women. married women should live in harmony with her husband, (ii) service to father and mother-in-laws, superiors, guests and deities, (iii) No. of Sutra-19 she should be of frugal habits, (iv) duties of a woman during the sojourn of her husband, (v) duties of a widow. Chapter-XXVI: Eligibility of women to perform religious duties with her husband. (1) Among the wives of the same caste the eldest is eligible to perform religious ceremonies with her husband, (ii) if there are more than one wife of different castes, the wife of the same caste of her husband is eligible, No. of Sutraif she is the youngest or junior, to perform religious duties, (iii) a twice born (dvija) is prohibited from performing religious duties with a wife of sudra caste. Chapter XXVII : Religious sacraments, such as garbhadhana (1) etc. and its varieties. nisekakarma or garbhadhana ceremony should be performed after the knowledge of conception, (ii) pumsavana should be performed before the movement of the foetus, specially from the 2nd month to the 4th months from conception. (iii) simantonnayana should be performed in the sixth or

82 eight month, (iv) jatakarma is to be performed as soon as the baby is born (before cutting the umbilical or naval cord), (v) naming ceremony namakarana is to be performed No. of Sutra-29 after the expiry of impurity (asauca), (vi) aditya darsana or niskramana should be performed in the fourth month (vii) Annaprasana i.e. the ceremony of the first feeding is to be performed in the sixth month and cudakarana (first cutting of hair) is to be performed in the third year. (viii) all these ceremonies of a girl should be performed without chanting any mantras. Only the marriage ceremony of a girl is to be performed with chanting of mantras. (ix) the upanayana ceremony of a brahmin boy is to be performed at the age of eighth year, of a kstriya at the age of eleventh year and of a vaisya at the age of twelve years. The sacred thread of the boys of different castes are made of different threads, (x) the time limit of performing this ceremony is the sixteenth year for a brahmin boy, twenty second year for a kstriya and twenty fourth year for a vaisya. After this time limit the boys are treated as vratyas and they become impure. Chapter XXVIII : Duties and conduct of a brahmacari. He (1) He should live in the preceptor's house (Gurukula) and perform morning and evening twilight worships. should study and do good to his preceptor. He should

83 live by begging alms. He should observe prohibition and inhibitions prescribed for a student (brahmacari), Duties and observances to be performed with the preceptor (iii) He should study the vedas and the ancillary literatures (11) No. of sutra-53 called vedanga, (iv) Characteristics and qualities of a dvija, (v) He should perform the ceremonial bath, being permitted by the preceptor after the completion of his study. (vi) The expiatory rites to be performed by a brahmacari if he fails to perform his duties. Chapter XXIX : Definitions of Acarya, Upadhyaya etc. and greatness of teachers. (i) who performs the upanayana and teaches the vedas, ne is called Acarya. Upadhyaya takes fees and teaches the vedas without performing the upanayana. Who performs the sacrificial rites for others, being appointed, he is a rtvik. No. of sutra-) (ii) Description of a good student is given and greatness of teacher is described. Chapter XXX Upakarma, utsarga and list of holidays are discussed in this chapter. (1) sravani karma is to be performed on the purnima tithi of the month of sravana and the study of the veda should be started after performing this ceremony. It is called Upakarma. Vedic studies should continue for five and half

84 months till the utsarga ceremony is performed. (ii) Prohibition of vedic studies one should not study on the caturdasi, astami, pancadasi i.e. purnima and amavasya and pratipat tithis. Some other occasions are mentioned No. of Sutra-47 when study is prohibited, (iii) Duties of a student are also enumerated. (iv) One should not quarrel with his teacher, (v) Greatness of a teacher is enumerated. Chapter (1) XXXI : Discussion on the greatness of teacher. Mother, father and teacher are most venerable (atiguravah). (ii) They should be pleased, (iii) Father resembles the garhapatya fire, mother is daksinagni and the teacher is the ahavaniya fire, (iv) One attains this region (manusyaloka) No. of sutra-10 by worshipping one's mother, the middle region (devalɔka) by worshipping one's father and the highest region (Brahmaloka) by worshipping one's teacher. Chapter XXXII : List of persons to be respected by one is enumerated in this chapter. The chapter may be named as gurudharmatidesah. (i) The king, rtvik, vedic scholar (srotriya), performer of good deeds (adharma pratisedhi), teacher (upadhyaya), paternal uncle, maternal grandfather, maternal uncle, father in-law, elder brother and other relatives (putra-duhitrsva-

85 surau) - these persons should be respected like teacher (acarya The wives of these persons of the same castes should also be (ii) Wives of other persons, respected. though displeased, should be addressed as No. of jutra-13 sister (bhaginI), daughter (Putri), mother (mata). (iii) Young wives (yuvati) of a teacher should not be respected by touching her feet. (iv) wealth (vitta), friends (bandhu) age (vayah), works, performances (karma), and wisdom (vidya) all these five are places of respect. The succeeding one is more important than the preceding one. Chapter (1) XXXIII: passion, anger, greed, are the natural enemies of men (riputraya) specially of house holder (grhasraminah), (ii) They are the main causes of crimes great sins (mahapataka), worst type of sins (atipataka), heinous crimes (anupataka) and minor sins No. of Sutra-6 (upapataka) for not controlling the triad of enemies. (iii) Other sins- sins leading to loss of castes (jatibhramsakara), sins leading to mixture of castes (samkarikarana) such as killing of animals etc. and sins leading to unworthiness (apatrikara), sins causing defilement (malavaha or malini karana) and miscellaneous sins (prakirnaka) are the effects of the triad leading to hell. •

86 Chapter XXXIV : (i) Committing adultery with mother, daughter, daughterin-law - all these are treated as worse type of crime (atinatakas), (ii) One committing these crimes must enter the fire as there No. of sutra- - L is no other atonement of such crimes. This is the shortest chapter of the book. - from Chapter - XXXV : The section on Prayascitte starts this chapter XXXIII and continues upto chapter 57 The svarupa or features of great sins (mahapataka) are stated in this chapter. (i) Killing of a brahmana (brahmahatya), drinking of wine (surapana), stealing of gold belonging to a brahmana (Brahmana suvarna haranam), adultery with the wife of a teacher (gurudaragamana) all these are treated as great sins (mahapataka). The persons connected with these crimes are also sinners. The performer(karta), No. of jutra-0 the instigator (Prayojayita), supporter (anumanta) and helper (anugrahaka) - all these persons are equally responsible for a crime, (11) expiation (prayascitta) can be done by performing asvamedha or visiting all the noly places (sarvatirthani) in the world.

87 Chapter XXXVI : (1) Killing of ksatriya or vaigya, performing soma sacrifice, a woman in her courses, pregnant woman, woman born of atrigotra, woman whose gestation is not known and a fugitive (saranagata) are treated to be heinous crimes (anupataka) and equal to that of killing a brahmana, (ii) False evidence (Kautasaksya) and killing of friend No. of Sutra-8 or well wisher are equal to drinking of wine. (iii) carrying off the land of a Brahmana by force, stealing of deposits (niksepa) are equal to that of stealing of gold, (iv, adultery with other women such as aunt, mother in-law and so on are equal to mahapataka, (v) The expiation is that of the mahapatakas. Chapter M XXXVII : Minor sins (upapatakas) and atonement there of are discussed in this chapter. (1) Telling lie for some benifit, slandering the king, maligning the superiors, reviling the vedas, quitting whatever is learnt, eating prohibited food, performing rites which are prohibited, taking prohibited gifts, selling prohibited No. of Sutra-35 goods, imparting instruction for remuneration, drinking intoxicating drinks and such other deeds are minor sins (upapataka), (11) Ferson committing

88 such crimes should perform candrayana or perform the penance called paraka or perform the ritual called gosava to atone such crime. Chapter XXXVIII ; (1) Inflicting physical injury to a brahmana, smelling prohibited inebriating drink, adultery with animals are minor sins called jatibhramsakara leading to loss of caste, (ii) persons committing such crimes should perform No. of Sutra-7 the penance called santapana krechra for seven days or prajapatya to atone such crimes. Chapter - XXXIX : (1) Inflicting injury to animal both domestic and wild is treated to be sins leading to mixture of castes (samkaria karna). (ii) To expiate such crimes one should eat yavaka for one month or perform the penance called krcchratikrechra, or perform prayascitta. Chapter XL $ No. of sutra-2 Sins leading to unworthiness (apatrikarana). (1) Taking money from unworthy person, business, usury or lending money upon interest, telling lie, service to sudra or degraded or No. of Sutra-2 low-caste people are treated as apatrikarana, (ii) One should perform the expiatory rites called taptakrcchra or sitakrcchra or mahasantapana.

89 Chapter XLI : Sins causing defilement (malini-karana or malavaha). (i) Killing of birds of all kinds domestic, wild and aquatic and the creatures living in water such as fish etc. killing of other small living beings (krimi, kita etc.) eating things No. of sutra-5 similar to those of intoxicating drinks. These are treated as malinikarana, (ii) Taptakrechra or krcchratikrcchra or prayascitta should be performed to atone these sins. Chapter XLII : (i) Miscellaneous sins (prakirnaka). Whatever sin is not enumerated in the former chapters is treated as prakirnaka. In other works on dharmasastra it is stated that riding on a cart of Ass or Camel, bathing nude, intercourse NO. of sutra-2 with woman (wife) in the day are prakirnakas. Prayascitta or expiatory rites should be performed considering the gravity of the crime after consulting brahmanas. Chapter (1) XLIII : Enumeration of Hells. Twenty two varieties of hell (naraka) are enumerated in this chapter, (ii) sufferings in these hells (narakas) for different sins are also enumerated. No. of sutra-45

90 Chapter XLIV : Rebirth of sinners among animals. (1) The sinners after suffering the hells are reborn as animals, (ii) An atipataki is born as trees, creepers etc. A manapataki suffers the birth of an insect (krimi). An anupataki suffers the birth of a bird and an upapataki suffers the birth of aquatic animals. An encroaNo. of Sutra-45 cher is born as a creature living in holes (bilesaya), a stealer of paddy as rat or mouse, a stealer of bel-metal as swan, stealer of honey as hornfly and so on and so forth. Chapter XLV : Various diseases suffered by a sinner in his human birth. (1) Atipataki suffers from leprosy (of eighteen varieties), killer of a brahmana is afflicted by pulmonary disease (yaksma), stealer of paddy has deformed limbs and so on, (ii) One suffering from these diseases or deformities should No. of Sutra-33 perform expiatory rites (prayascitta) to get rid of these ailments as an effect of sins committed in earlier births. Chapter - XLVI : Different varieties of penances are enumerated and discussed in this chapter. (i) Penances are called krcchra as it is very painful to perform and requires austerity and bodily mortification. One should not take any food for three days (both day and

91 night), he should take bathes thrice daily for these three days and he should dip thrice for each bathe and recite the mantras known as aghamarsana sukta. He should keep himself standing in the day and sitting at night. After performing the Penance he should give a milched cow to brahmana as gift. This is called aghamarsana No. of sutra-25 krcchra. prajapatya is that penance in which one should eat once in the day for three days and eat once in the evening for next three days and eat such food only as nas been obtained without solicitation for next three days. Taptakrechra is that in which one should observe fast for twelve days. He should drink only warm water for three days, then warm ghee for next three days, warm milk for next three days and do not eat or drink anything for next three days. Chapter XLVII : Different varieties of candrayana are discussed. (i) One should take the full or complete morsels of tood in one meal. A morsel of food is equal to that of an egg of a hen. He should increased the number of morsels according to the increase of the phase of the moon and decrease according to the decrease of the luner phase. He should not eat anything on the amavasya day. This is called

92 yavamadhya candrayana. This candrayana starts on the first day of the white fortnight (suklapratipat) and ends on the amavasya day. The reverse of it is pipilikamadhya candrayana. In yavamadhya candrayana purnima comes in the middle where as in pipilika madhya candrayana the amavasya comes in the middle. In yaticandrayana one should eat eight morsels of food daily for one month. No. of Sutra-13 In sisu candrayana one should eat four morsels of food in the morning (within three muhurtas from sunrise) and four morsels of food in the evening (after sun set) for one month. Other varieties of candrayana are also discussed in this chapter and the effects of this penance are also discussed. Chapter XLVIII : Yavaka vrata (vow to live only on barley) is discussed. (1) One should cook a handful (prasrti) of barley himself and subsist on it. No portion of the food should be offered on fire nor perform the balikarma (bhutayajna). One who wants wisdom No. of sutra-22 one should perform this vrata for three nights, a sinner should perform for six nights.

93 (ii) The charms (mantras to be recited at the time of eating the food (yavaka) are also enumerated. a Chapter - XLIX : Vaisnavavita (vow to please visnu) is discussed. (1) One should observe fast on the eleventh day (ekadasi) of the bright half (sukla paksa) of the month of Margasirsa and on the twelfth day (dvadasi) God Vasudeva should be worshipped with all the materials (upacaras) of worship. He should be offered flower, incense, lamp No. of Sutra-10 (dipa), offerings of eatables (naivedya), oblations and one should feed brahmanas. (ii) Different effects (phala) are enumerated according to the length of time of the observance of this vow. Chapter L : Expiations for killing human beings and animals. (1) Expiation for killing a brahmana. One should live in the forest in a hut made of leaves, take bath thrice a day and beg alms from village to village declaring his action (crime), he should lie (sleep) on grass. This is called mahavrata and this vow should be observed for twelve years. No. or Sutra-50 Expiation of killing a king, killing a pregnant woman, woman in her courses and such other killing of human beings

94 are prescribed. The vow called govrata is discussed. Expiatory rites for killing animals (both domestic and wild), killing of birds of different kinds, cutting of trees and creepers are prescribed. Chapter - LI : Expiatory rites for drinking spirituous liquor and eating prohibited food are prescribed. (1) A drinker of spirituous liquor is disqualified to perform all religious performances including the daily worship. He should subsist on grain of corns for one year. All the twice born people must perform the upanayana (Punah samskara) after performing prayascitta if he eats garlic, onion, a small red variety of onion, flesh of domestic pig or domestic hen etc., (ii) One should perform expiatory rites for eating food from the people of certain castes or people of certain avocations, eating the flesh of certain kinds of birds. Eating of flesh of certain animals and birds are allowed. In general the eating of flesh or meat is condemned. Chapter (i) LII : Expiation for stealing gold etc. No.of Sutra-78 Person who steals gold must divulge his sin before the king and offer him (king) a mace (musala) by which the king will hit him (stealer). If he dies he is sanctified if not he should observe the vow called mahavrata for twelve years. No. of sutra-17

95 Chapter LIII : Expiatory rites for defiling the bed of prohibited woman i.e. Atonement for forbidden sexual intercourse. (i) Though it is a punishable crime to have illicit relations with women other than one's wife, yet the atonement for the sins arisen out of illicit relations with womer prohibited by the scriptures is prescribed. One should observe the Prajapatya vow in the procedure No. of sutra-3 of Mahavrata in the forest for one year, wearing tattered cloths or bark-garment. The same atonement should also be observed if one commits the sin of having intercourse with other's wives. (ii) Different types of expiatory rites are prescribed for having illicit intercourse with females > any kind of human or animal. Chapter LIV : (i) Expiatory rites for association with sinners. One should perform the expiatory rites for having association or connection with a sinner. He should observe the same vow as that of the sinner which is prescribed for the sin he has committed. (ii) A brahmana should observe fast for three nights (both day No. of Sutra-34 and nights), if he drinks water of a well polluted by the drowning of a five nailed animal or extremely difiled by

96 other reasons. A ksatriya for two days, a vaisya for day fast is to be observed. A sudra should eat at night after observing fast for the day. After observing the vow, the person of all castes should drink pancagavya. One should 'observe the vow of fasting for three days and nights after mating with wives on the prohibited days. A person who gives false witness should observe the vow prescribed for the atonement of killing a brahmana. Atonement for other sins also prescribed. Persons above the age of eighty, boys below the age of sixteen, women and sick persons should observe half of the prescribed vows as injuncted for respective sins. Chapter LV : Atonement for secret sins and discussion of the greatness of gayatri hymn. (1) Expiatory vows for clandestine or secret sins. ɔins may be of two types by other people). private (clandestine) and public known The public sins are known by other people or publicised at the time of its commission or afterwards. The private or clandestine sins are secret and known only by the person No. of sutra-21 alone who commits the sin. Expiatory vows are prescribed for the atonement of clandestine sins. (ii) A killer of a brahmana (in secret) should always bathe in a river and perform pranayama sixteen times and eat food

97 technically known as havisya for one month and offer gift of a milch cow at the end of the vow. A drinker of spirituous liquor should observe the above vow but he should recite the aghamarsana hymn instead of pranayama for the atonement of his sin. The stealer of gold should perform the vow of reciting the Gayatri hymn one thousand times to expiate his sin. The greatness of aghamarsana sukta is described. (iii) All the twice born persons (dvijas) should perform pranayama (three breath exercises) to expiate sins. (iv) The procedure of pranayama is discussed. (v) The creation of vyahrti and pranava is also described. The greatness and efficacy of the recitation of Gayatri is described. Chapter-LVI : Enumeration of different vedic hymns to be employed in the purificatory and expiatory rites. (1) The purificatory rites for the atonement of different sins arising out of the commission of clandestine sins are discussed in the former chapter. The scripatural formulae to be employed to expiate the clandestine sins are enumerated in this chapter. The vedic hymns, the employment of which in perorming the japa and homa to expiate the sins are enumerated. The technical names of the Vedic hymns are enunciated aghamarsana- "rtam ca satyam etc." devakrtam-"devakrtasyainaso

98 vayajanamasi etc." suddhavati- "eto nvindram stavama etc." taratsamandiyam- "tarat samandi dhavati etc." kusmandi "yaddeva deva hedanam etc.". pavamani - - "pavamanih svastyayanih etc." durgasavitri- "jatavedase sunavama somam etc." atisangah - "purojiti vo andhasah etc." padastoma the four sama hymns beginning with "astedadi" etc. sung in the rk "dhartadivah pavate the Vyahrti samans are the five etc." samani vyahrtayah No. of Sutra-27 "bhuh etc." bharundani - the twenty one samans - "yatte krsnah sakuna a tutoda pipilah sarpah etc." well known among the Ranayaniyas. candrasamathe rk verses "atraha goramanvata" etc. sung in saman. purusavrate samani the rk verses "sahasr " sahasrasirsa purusah and tripadurdhva udait ------ etc." sung in samans. Ablingam- "apo hi stha".... etc. gosuktam "yadindraham yatha tvamisiya vasva etc." "yadindra ham asvasuktam - This is the same rk candrasukte etc." sung in samans, samani sa "eto nvindram stavama" and the gayatri "tat saviturvarenyam etc." Satarudrlya the eleven anuvakas well known etc." among the Taittiriyas "namaste rudra manyave Atharvasirah - "brahma devanam prathamah sambabhuva etc.' Trisuparnam the three anuvakas well known in Taittiriyas * $ - "brahma metu mam, madhu metu mam etc." Mahavratam "somamrajanam etc." sung in samans. Narayaniyam "ambhasya pare bhuvanasya madhye etc." from narayanopa-

99 nisat well known in the Taittiriyas. purusasuktam ca the sixteen rk verses "sahasra "sahasra sirsa etc." The word 'ca' includes the Vak sukts - "brhaspate prathamam vaco agram etc." and the madhu rk "madhuvata rtayate ->> The samans known as Ajyadoha etc." "Murdhanam divo aratim Frthivyam etc." The Rathantara sama "gura no numah etc." Agnivrata - "agnirmurdha divah kakut --etc." sung in samans. Vamadevya sama "kaya nascitra a bhuvat ---- etc." Brhatsama- "tvamiddhi havamahe - etc." These samans are to be sung to be purified from sins. Chapter LVII : Sinners who should be shunned. sinners are of two varieties (a) - (1) who repents for his sin and (b) the other who does not repent for the sin ne has committed. (1) the sinners who does not repent for the commission of his crime or sin, such persons should be shunned by others. These sinners are - a vratya either a man who nas lost his caste through non-observance of the ten principal samskaras or a M No. of Sutra-16 man of a particular low caste descended from a sudra man and a ksatriya, a patita (degraded person,, one who is degraded for three generations either from his father or from his mother. (ii) The out-castes and degraded persons should neither be fed nor give any charity. The 11- -effects of accepting gift or reward from persons who are degraded and from whom gift cannot be accepted. d

100 (iii) some things and articles such as wood, water, fruits shelter, seat, flower and so on may be accepted as gift offered by degraded persons. (iv) A person is allowed to accept gift from a degraded person for the maintenance of his superiors (parents) and other dependants (wife, children and servant etc.) Chapter LVIII : The last part of the acara (established rule of conduct, ordinance, traditional or immemorial usage as the foundation of law) is discussed from the chapter 58. The subsection called ahnika prakarana (daily observance oi diurnal prayers and practices necessary for bodily and mental purification) is discussed. (i) Three kinds of wealth pure, impure and mixed belongs The pure wealth is that which is earned to a householder. or acquired by a person through his profession as prescribed by the scriptures. The wealth which is No. Sutra-12 acquired through the profession of others (as the profession of ksatriya followed by a brahmana, by following the profession of vaisya by ksatriya) is treated as mixed. The wealth: acquired by following the profession of a lower class of people separated by one intermediate class inferior to him (as the profession of vaisya followed by a brahmana) is called impure. (ii) The wealth and property inherited by a person from his ancestors, presented by friends and

101 relatives, gift received at nuptials from the in-laws is treated as pure. The wealth received through bribery or corruption, sulka, by selling prohibited articles or commodities, received a reward for service or favour is treated as mixed (sabala). The wealth received as helper (parsvika), by playing dice, theft or by stealing, by begging, by fraud or deception is treated as impure. Chapter LIX : Duties and responsibilities of a house-holder. Obligatory rites to be performed. (i) The house-holder should perform the pakayajnas (offering oblations with cooked food) on the nuptial fire. The rituals are vaisvadeva, sthalipaka, sravanakarma etc. He should perform agnihotra (i.e. offer oblation at the dawn and evening twilight). He should offer oblations to the gods. Hand (wooden mortar), Pesani (a grindstone), ni culli (a fire-place), Udakumbha (water-jar), Upaskara (broom) No. 2 Sutra-2) these are the five places in a house by which animal life may be accidentally destroyed (the fire-place, slab for grinding condiments, broom pestle and mortar and water-pot) and as a result a house-holder is supposed to commit sin. He should perform the five great sacrifices, namely, Brahmayajna Jaily

102 recitation of portions of the Veda and sacred books at the sandhya), Devayajna (sacrifice to the gods i.e. offering oblitions to gods), Pitryajna (obsequial rites or oblations made to ancestors), Bhutayajna (the offering of food etc. to all created beings) and Narayina or Nryajna (sacrifice or homage to be offered to men in the form of hospitality or honouring of guests) in order to expiate sins acrued from the above five places. (ii) The greatness of a house-holder is described. Chapter LX : Cleaning and purificating the body at dawn is discussed or rules of purification. (1) Rules for attending call of nature, rules of direction in this regard. One should attend the call of nature facing towards the south at night and facing towards the north 111 day, dawn and evening twilight. Prohibited places for attending call of nature is also enumerated. No. of Sutra-20 Chapter (1) LXI : Cleansing of teeth with twigs. Twigs (small branch) for cleaning the teeth should be of the length of twelve angulas and the size should be that of the little finger. It should be made into a brush. The twics of the following trees should not be used for cleaning teeth: palasa (butea frondosa), slesmataka (twig abounds with phlegm or mucus), arista (having excessive foam, spumous),

103 Vibhitaka (terminalia bellerica), Dhava (a kind of tree). Dhanvana (a kind of tree) Bandhuka or Bandhujivaka (a plant with a red flower which opens at midday and withers away the next morning), Nirgundi (the plant vitex Negundo), sigru (e kind of horse-radish) saubhanjana (the root and leaves and flowers are eaten). Tilva (a kind of plant), Tinduka (the sunflower). Kovidara, sami (saktuphala), pilu (a group of palm tree) Pippala (asvattha tree), Inguda (tapasataruNo. of Sutra-17 the medicinal tree Terminalia catappa), Guggulu (Purah fragrant gum resin, used as a perfume and medicament), Paribhadraka (sakrapadapa sorrel - - a kind of plant), Amlika (wood a tamarind tree), Mocaka ( a kind of plant) (almall (silk cotton tree - a lofty and thorny tree with red flowers). sana (a kind of hemp). The twig used for cleaning teeth should not be sweet, sour, dry, perforated, foul smelling or fetid, slimy or lubricous, etc. The twighs of the following tree should be taken for cleaning the teeth vata or Nyagrodha (the Indian fig-tree) Asana (the tree terminalia tomentosa), arka (a kind of medi cinal tree), Khadira (dantadhavana acacia catechu), Karanja te (Prakirya - a kind of medicinal plant), Badara (Karkandhuthe jujube tree), Sarja (the sal tree), Nimba (Picumanda the nimbatree), Arimeda (Vit-khadira a fetid mimosa),

104 Apamarga (saikharika- the plant achyranthes aspera employed very often in incantation, medicine etc.), Malati ( a kind of creeper having fragrant flower), Kakubha (Arjuna the tree terminalia arjuna), Bilva (Sriphala the wood-apple tree commonly called Bel), the twigs of other trees having astringent, bitter, pungent taste may also be used for cleaning the teeth. The cleaning of teeth is also prohibited on certain days by the authorities on the scriptures. Chapter LXII : Rules for acamana i.e. sipping water from palm of the hand (before religious ceremonies, before meais) for purification by using certain mantras. (1) The roots of the fingers in the palm of the twice born are described as different sacred places. The root of the little finger is the seat No. Sutra-9 of prajapati, the root of the thumb is the seat of Brahma (Brahmatirtha), the root of the fore-finger is the seat of the manes (Pitrtirtha), the tips of the fingers are the seats of gods (daiva). (11) The procedure of acamana is described. Chapter LXIII : The means and procedure of earning wealth and property are discussed in this chapter as the wealth is necessary for a house-holder to perform his duties. (1) The House-holder should approach the king or other rich person for his livelihood (the security or secure possession

105 of what has been acquired, the keeping of safe property welfare, prosperity) or the acquisition and preservation of property. (ii) One should not travel alone, one should also not to be accompanied by an unrighteous or irreligious person. He should not be accompanied by a contemptible or low caste man or by an unfriendly person. He should not start his journey at dawn (early morning) or in the evening or in twilight or in midday. One should not travel by a road near water (such as river bank etc.) One should not move in great speed. One should not go by a cart pulled by sick animals (horse etc.) or animal with defective limb or weak. One should not travel in a cart pulled by cow. (111) The duties of a traveller are enunciated. The traveller should NO O 30⑈1-50 not take his food without giving food and water to the carrier of cart. He should not take refuge in a catuspatha (crossway where four roads meet together) or under a tree or in a vacant house or at a place full of grass or in a cattle-pound or in a place abounds in hair, husk, skull or bones, ash or charcoal. He should circumambulate an auspicious tree, offer obeisance to the deities on his way. (iv) He should see the following auspicious objects at the time of departure in s journey, agni (fire), brahmana (a brahmin), ganika (a heriot, courtezan), Purnakumbha (pot filled with water) adarse chatra (umbrella), dhavaja and pataka (a flag with a (mirror). bannel,

106 srivrksa (wood-apple tree), vardhamana (saravaka a kind of vessel), nandyavarta ( a palace or temple), fan, camera (a chowrie), horse, elephant, goat, cow with a calf, dadhi (curd), milk, honey, siddharthaka (white mustard), vina (Indian lute), sandal paste, ayudha (weapon), ardra-gomaya (fresh cow-dung), fruit, flower, succulent vegetable, gorocana ( a bright yellow orpiment prepared from the bile of cattle used in painting and in marking the tilaka on the forehead), twigs of durva (a kind of sacred grass), turban, ornament, gems, gold, silver, cloth, seat, cart or carriage, fresh meat, bhringara ( a golden pitcher), fertile soil, tied animal (such as a bull), maiden, fresh fish etc. (v) Inauspicious objects are also enunciated. One should not start one's journey if one sees the following objects. matta (a drunkard), unmatta (insane, mad, furious, frantic), vyamga (deformed in limb or crippled), person who is vomitting or purging, person having bald head or who has shaved his head, jatila (person having twisted hair), a dwarf, a mendicant, oil, dry cowdung, faggot, grass, leaf of palasa, ash and charcoal and so on. (vi) He should salute a lute (vina), fresh vegetable, sandai, turban, ornament, maiden at the time of departure. (vii) He should not leap over the shadow of the idols of deity, Brahmana, preceptor or teacher, reddish-brown cow,

107 initiated person. He should not leap over spittle (sputum), vomit (vanta), blood (rudhira), stool and urine, water after bath (snanavari). (viii) He should not move quickly in heavy shower, He should not cross a river without necessity nor with arms (swim) and without worshipping deity and ancestors on the bank. He should not stand on the declivity (kula), he should neither look inside a well nor leap over. a (ix) He should give way to an oldman, porter (bhari), king, a grduate (snataka), a lady (woman), a patient (rogi), 2 bridegroom, a cart when he meets them in his way. But the preference to be given inorder a graduate, a king and so on. Chapter LXIV : Rules for ablution and offering of libations to divinities and ancestors are discussed in this chapter. (i) Waters unfit for ablution. The householder should not bathe in tank belonged to others. If at all necessary he should take five lumps of earth and throwing them out of the tank and take bath. If it is well three pots of waters shoul be thrown out of the well and then bathe. He should not bathe if suffers No. of Sutra-42 from indigestion or if he is ill. He should not bathe without clothes (naked) or at night except at the time of eclipse. He should not bathe at dusk.

108 The time for bathe and prohibition of smearing head and other limbs are enunciated. The merit of bathing in river, tank and well is enumerated. He should recite the aghamarsana hymn in water. He should also recite the mantra "tad visnoh" etc. and the drupada and savitri mantras and the anuvaka "yunjate mana"- etc., and the purusasukta hymn. After taking bath, with his wet attire he should offer libations (tarpanai to gods and ancestors. He should sip water after wearing dry cloths. He should offer flowers to visnu with the iurusasukte hymn (one flower for each verse totalling sixteen flowers). He should offer libation of water to gods with the daiva tirt of his palm and to the manes with the pittirtha of his palm. The order of preference of the persons to be offered libation is enunciated. He should recite the Pavitra hymns, namely, the Pavamani, savitri and purusasukta hymn. A person becomes fit for performing divine and pitrkarma and to recite purificatory hymns and to perform charity (dana) after his bath. Other effects of bath are also enunciated. Chapter LXV : - Daily worship of God Vasudeva. The worship of the supreme being God vasudeva should be performed. Different mantras are enunciated to offer different materials such as padya, No. of sutra-15 arghya, acamaniya snaniya, ornaments, dhupa, dipa etc. Mantras for offering chowrie, fan, seat etc. also enunciated.

109 Chapter LXVI : Materials such as water, flower, incense, cloth, food etc. for worshipping Vasudeva is described. No.ot Sutra-15 (i) Prohibited water, ointments (anulepana), incense, cloths, ornaments, flowers, oil for lamp, food, meat etc. are enunciated. (ii) The procedures to be observed (niyama) are also described). Chapter LXVII The rituals to be performed after worshipping Vasudeva are described. The performance of Vaisvadeva and other ceremonies are described in this chapter. (i) The procedure of performing vaisvadeva homa, materials for oblation and deities are mentioned. The mantras to be chanted are also enumerated according to the katha sakha. (ii) The performance of bhutayajna (the offering of food etc. to all created beings) is described. The places and deities are also mentioned. (iii) The performance of pitryajna, the persons to be offered rice balls are mentioned. No. Sutra-49 It appears that the offering of rice ball (Pindadana) is preferable to feeding brahmana (brahmana-bhojana). Flowers, incense, lamp, other eatables should be offered alongwith rice balls. The (iv) The performance of manusyayajna i.e. offering of alms and food to a stranger or guest (atithi) is described. guests should not be dishonoured. A guest is the most venerable to a householder.

110 (v) The characteristics of an atithi is also described. Other persons coming to the abode of a householder should be entertained. It is an obligatory duty of a householder to feed the maidens, ailing persons, ladies quick with a child, guests and servants and the couple should take their meals atlast after feeding all persons. A house holder who prepares food only for himself he eats only sins. (vi) The merits accrued from offering hospitality to guests are enumerated. Chapter LXVIII : Rules about time and manner of taking food are described. (i) One should not eat or drink anything during solar and lunar eclipses. One should eat after taking bath after eclipse. (11) Prohibition of eating for different reasons such as indigestion and at different times such as at midday and at midnight and in different postures are enunciated. other prohibition and inNo. of sutra-4 hibition are also enumerated. Salt should not be added after cooking. Curd (dadhi) should not be eaten at night. One should not see the sun or moon or star at the time of eating. He should also not touch his head or recite veda while eating. He should not eat food with his wife I in open space, or seen by many persons. He should not eat

111 eat food in a vacant house, or in sacrificial places or in temple. He should not drink water with his palm. He should not eat excessive food. He should not eat food in afternoon or at the dawn or dusk. Other restrictions are also enumerated. Chapter LXIX : M Prohibitions and inhibitions of mating with wife are enumerated in this chapter. (Pancadasi- (i) The intercourse with wife is forbidden on the eighth (astami), fourteenth (caturdasi), and fifteenth Paurnamasi and amavasya) day of a fortnight. He should not mate with wife on the day on which he performs sraddha or eats in sraddha or invited to a sraddha or during the observance of vow or initiated for a vow. Forbidden places (such as place of worship, smasana, vacant house etc.) and times are also enumerated. The house-holder who desires long life should not cohabit with a woman who is deformed (hinamgi) or having excess limbs (adhikamgi) or who is older to him in age, No. of who is quick with a child or who is ill. Sutra-17 Chapter dim LXX : Rules for sleeping is described in this chapter. (i) The restrictions and prohibitions of time, place etc. with regard to sleep are described. (ii) persons should not sleep with wet feet. He should not sleep by No. of sutra-17 placing his head towards the north or west directions. He

112 should not sleep naked, or lie strait like a pillar or in an open space without cover. He should not sleep on a bed made of palasa or pancadaru (five kinds of trees) or trees broken by elephant or trees burnt by lightning. He should not also sleep on a broken bed or a bed burnt by fire or ghatasikta tree. Restricted places for sleep are also enumerated. Chapter LXXI: The duties of snataka or graduate are discussed in this chapter. General rules of conduct for a householder. (i) Prohibitions and inhibitions are mentioned. A graduate (snataka) should not dishonour anybody. He should not ridicule a deformed person or poor. He should not serve a person lower (either in caste or status) than him. He should not perform any duties against veda. He should wear clothes befitting No. of 3utra- 72 to his age, education, ancestry, wealth and property and place. Other restrictions are also mentioned. He should take a bamboo stick, a jar full of water, sacred thread (Upavita) of cotton, should wear gold ear-rings. He should not look at the sun while rising or at the time of setting or midday. He should not also see his image in water. He should not look at his wife while she is eating or he should not look at any naked (not fully dressed) lady. He should

113 not also look at anybody who is easing himself. He should He should not not look at the insane (unmatta) or intoxicated (matta) person, He should not leap over fire or heat his feet. He should not wash his feet in a vessel made of bell-metal. write on ground. He should not cut grass or nail or hair with his teeth. He should avoid gambling, morning sunshine, and clothes, shoes, garland, sacred thread used by others. He should not teach a sudra the vedas or any vow. He should not perform any religious duties despised by public (lokavicvi- sta). Other restrictions are also mentioned. He should observed the code of conduct (dharma, as enunciated in the sruti, smrti and followed by the righteous (sadhu) persons. Such a person attains longivity, desires fulfilled, wealth and averts sing. Chapter LXXII : The codes of conduct common to all the four stages of life are described in this chapter. (1) A man should control his mind and senses. He should live with dama and yama. Dama means the control of mental activities and yama means the controlling of sense organs. No. of Sutra-" The merits and demerits of the controlling of mind and senses are enumerated.

114 Chapter LXXIII : The procedure of graddha, its varieties and allied matters are discussed in this section called sraddhaprakarana. This section starts from chapter 73 upto chapter 85. This section covers thirteen chapters. General rules for sraddha are discussed in this chapter. The commentary vaijayanti states that offering of food to brahmanas the name of manes (ancestor) is sraddha (sraddham nama pitruddesena brahmanebhyo'nnadanam). The sraddha is of three varieties obligatory (nitya), special, accidental or occasional (naimittika) and optional (kamya) or voluntary. The duties to be performed on the previous day of sraddha is stated. The performer of shraddha should invite necessary brahmanas on the day before the actual sraddha. No. of Sutra-32 The rituals to be performed on the sraddha day are described. The number of brahmanas to be worshipped in different sraddhas are also discussed. The duties (itikartavyata) to be performed in amasraddha (without cooked food), Pasusraddha, amavasya sraddha etc. are described alongwith the mantras to be recited. The mantras are generally quoted from the Kathaka samhita. The procedure of performing sraddha is described according to the kathaka system. The direction of the

115 brahmanas seated is also enumerated. Other details are also described. Chapter LXXIV : The performance of astaka sraddha is dise cussed. Meat (masa), vegetables (saka) and cakes (apupa) are to be offered to mother, grand-mother and great-grand mother after offering to gods. No. of Sutra-8 The procedure of making furrow (karsu) and filling up with food and water is described. Curd, milk and meat are also to be offered. Chapter - LXXV : Discussion on Manes to be worshipped (sraddha devata) is made in this chapter. (i) When the sraddha is to be performed during the life time of the father of a person, the sraddha is to be offered to the father and his forefathers of the living person (father). If the father and grand father are alive then the father and fore-fathers (Pitamahiya pitrpitamaha prapitamaha) of No. of Sutra-7 the grand-father should be worshipped. But if the father grand father and great grand-fathers are alive no necessity of performing graddha. If the father is dead but grand father is alive then a person should offer rice ball (Pinda) to his father and two fore-fathers after grand-father i.e. great grand father and

116 great-great grand-father (prapitamaha and vrddha-prapitamaha). If the father and grand father (Pita and pitamaha) are dead but the great grand father (prapitamaha) is alive then he should offer rice balls to his father and grandfather and to great grand father's father (Pitr, pitamaha and Vrddha prapitamaha). If the father and greatgrand-father are alive (jivat pitr-prapita-mahakah), then he should offer his grand father (Pitamaha) rice balls (Pinda) and to great grand father's father and his father (Vrddhaprapitamahatatpitrɔh). The same procedure be followed in offering rice balls (Pinda) to maternal grand father and his forefathers. Chapter - LXXVI : Constant or obligatory (nitya) sraddhas and the times for their performance and sins accrued for non performance are discussed in this chapter. Three new-moon days (amavasyastisrah), three eighth days of the dark half (astakastisrah), one day after each eighth day (anvastaka) viz. three No. sutra-2 of ninth day (navami) and maghi (magha yukta trayodasi) and the thirteenth day after the full moon (Prausthapadyurdhvam) and vrihipaka (sarat-autumn) and yavanaka (vasanta-spring) are obligatory time for performing sraddha (nityasraddha). Persons who do not perform sraddha on all these days attains hell (naraka).

117 Chapter - LXXVII; The occasion for the performance of naimittika sraddha and the proper time for performing each of them are discussed in this chapter, aditya samkramana i.e. the movement of the sun from one zodiacal sign to No. of sutra-9 the other, the two visuvaddays (tula and mesa samkrantis;, the two ayanas (makara and karkata), the moment called vyatipata, birth naksatra of oneself and abhyudaya (birth of sons and daughters etc.). The effects of performing sraddha on these occasions are also stated. Chapter LXXVIII : The effects of Kamyasraddhas are enumerated in this chapter. The specific effects accrued after performing sraddha on different days of the week, twenty seven stars (naksatra) and fifteen lunar days (tithis) are detailed in this chapter. One gets health (arogya) by performing sraddha on each sunday (adityavasara). Different wishes are fulfilled by performing sraddha on each day of the week. In the same way one gets his desires (such as heaven, offspring, success, wealth etc.) fulfilled by offering sraddha on each the naksatras of the month. Specific results (such as dwellings, beautiful wife, children etc.) are obtained by performing sraddha on the specific tithis. All desires are fulfilled by performing sraddha on the amavasya tithi. No. of sutra-53 The sraddha to the persons killed by any weapon, due to

118 accident such as falling from tree, hillock, eloctrocution etc. should be offered on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight (i.e. krsna caturdasi). Chapter LXXIX : The upakaranas (materials necessary as well as prohibited) of graddha are discussed. Proper water, substitute for sacred grass (kusa, cloths are discussed. Proper flower, proper oil for light, proper incense as well as prohibited flower, oil and incense are enumerated. No. of sutra- 4 Different kinds of unguent are also prescribed. Pots fit for graddha are enumerated. Silver pot is regarded to be preferable, pot made of rhino-horn, the white mustard seed, seasamum (tila) are regarded more auspicious in a sraddha. Prohibited eatables are enumerated, the performer and the guests of a sraddha should avoid anger, they should not weep and should not be in haste. Chapter LXXX : Varieties of eatables both vegetarian end non-vegetarian are enumerated. Seasamum, vrihi, yava, syamaka are prescribed. Different varieties of meat such as deer, goat, birds and fish are prescribed. No. of Sutra-14

119 Chapter LXXXI ; General rules to be observed in a sraddna. Rules to be observed in eating in a sraddha. Food should not be placed on a stool. He should dispel evil spirit by scattering seasamum or mustard seed with mantras. sraddha should be performed in a covered place. The performer and enjoyer (bhokta) of a graddha should not look at a woman in No. of sutra-24 her courses nor a dog nor domestic hen nor pigs. They should control their speech. One should not eat food in a sraddha by covering his head or wearing footwear. Chapter LXXXII : persons unfit to be fed in a graddha. A brahmana should not be testified in daiva rituals but he is to be testified in paitrka rituals. A long list of persons unfit to be invited to a graddha is given. Among the persons are persons having less or excessive limbs, a physician, person who performs No. of sutra-30 priesthood for many persons. Teachers who teach in lieu of fees etc. Chapter LXXXIII : Persons worthy to be invited and fed in a sraddha.

120 The brahmanas fit to be fed in a graddha are called panktipavanas. The panktipavanas are enumerated in fifteen sutras. Chapter No. of Sutra-21 LXXXIV : places unfit for sraddha are enumerated. sraddha should not be performed in mleccha region. Mleccha region is that where there is no division of four castes and the people do not follow the rules and duties of the four castes. No. of Sutra-4 Chapter LXXXV : places fit for performing sraddha are enumerated. sraddha performed in Puskara leads to undecaying results. So also in Gayasirsa, vata, amarkantaka parvata, on the banks of Narmada and Yamuna, Ganges, Nilaparvata, No. of • Sutra-71 Prabhasa, Varanasi, etc. The slokas 69-71 consist of Pitrgatha. Chapter de LXXXVI : The procedure of Vrsotsarga is discussed. The appropriate time for the performance of the ritual is discussed. The characteristics and qualities of the bull is described The procedure of the ceremony in detail No. of sutra-21 is discussed including the mantras to be recited. effects of the ceremony is also described. The

121 Chapter LXXXVII : Now starts the section on charity (dana). This section consists of seven chapters. The offering of a skin of black antelope covered with sesamum and the merits of such charity is described in this chapter. No. of Sutra-10 Chapter LXXXVIII : The gift of cow is stated to be equal to that of the gift of the earth and the merits there of are described in this chapter. No. of sutra-4 Chapter LXXXIX : The bathing ceremony in the No. of Sutra-4 fullmoon day of the month of Kartika is discussed in this chapter. Chapter XC ; Gifts of heterogeneous objects are described in this chapter. VaguGifts of salt on the fullmoon dys of the month of margasirsa and the merits of such gift is described. deva pujana should be performed in the month of pausa and oblations should be offered on fire with the recitation of vaisnava, sakra and barhaspatya mantras and gold with ghee should be given No. of sutra-29 to three brahmanas. sraddha should be performed in Magha, bed and other materials of sleeping (sayya) should be given to Brahmanas in phalguna, coloured cloth full of pictures should be given in Caitra, Brahmanas should be fed in vaisakha,

122 umbrella and footwear should be offered in jyestha. Food and drink are to be offered in the month of asadha and jaladhenu is to be offered in sravana. Cow should be offered in bhadrapada and pot full of ghee should be offered in asvina, white bull should be offered in Kartika. Other things are to be offered on different days in different months of the year and the merits accrued from different offerings are also discussed in this chapter. Chapter XCI : Gift of well, tank, garden (park), temple etc. for public use. The merits of digging well, tank, and offerings of water to the thirsty are No. of Sutra-23 described. The merits of planting trees, construction of embankment, rennovation of temples and service rendered in a temple are described. Chapter XCII : Gifts of land, horse, cow, gold silver food, bed umbrella etc. and the merits thereof are discussed in this chapter. Giving protection or assurance of safety is said to be the best of all gifts. The merits of gift of earth (bhumidana), cow, bedecked with jewels, horse, clothes, silver, No. of Sutra-32 metallic pot or vessel, ghee, honey, oil, medicinal herbs, salt, paddy, any kind of grain, food, sesamum, fuel, seat,

123 bed, footwear, umbrella, fan, chowrie, house etc. are described. Chapter XCIII, Persons fit to receive gifts. accrued from making gifts to different persons. The merits No. of Sutra-14 The word "abrahmana" occuring in the first sutra does not mean a non-brahmin. The technical meanings of the words such as 'brahmanabruva', baidalavratika, bakavratika etc. are described. Chapter XCIV : Duties of Vanaprastha (forest-hermit) discussed. Appropriate time for entering the third stage of life i.e. vanaprastha (forest hermitage) is enumerated. hermit should keep his wife under the The forest care of his sons or she may accompany him to the forest. He is to worship the No. of Sutra-13 fire always, to observe brahmacarya and should not stop daily study of the vedas. He should observe other duties and life in Kapotavrtti. Chapter - XCV : Food, austerities and code of conduct of a forest hermit (vanaprasthadharmah). The vanaprastha (forest hermit) should mortify his body through austerities. He should observe the austerity called pancatapah in summer. No. of sutra-16 He should

124 lay in open place during rainy season and should remain with wet clothes during winter. He should eat at night. He should also eat at the interval of one, two or three days. He should eat flower, fruit, vegetables (saka), leaves, rice gruel or gruel of any corn. He should observe candrayana. The austerity is eulogized. Chapter XCVI, The code of conduct of a sannyasi, his life, duty etc. are discussed. discussed. Human anatomy is also Appropriate time for taking sannyasa. The house holder being observing the duties of three stages (asrama) of life should take sannyasa after performing the prajapatya sacrifice and giving all his properties in the form of dak- sina. He should beg for his livelihood. No. of sutra- 78 He should use pots made of earth or wood or guard. He should despise any honour and live in vacant house or under a tree. He should wear a small piece of cloth to cover the privities. He should observe certain code of conduct. The anatomy of the human body is stated. The man at the beginning lives in the womb full of darkness and with excretions. He feels heat and cold in the womb and suffers great affliction at the time of coming out from the womb

125 through the passage of the womb. Delusion in childhood and subordinate to the superiors. Studentship is troublesome. The youth (yauvana) is also full of affliction leading to hell. There is no happiness in this world. The body is the combination of seven elements (dhatu). These are the serum or marrow of the flesh (vasa) blood (rudhira), flesh (mamsa), fat or lymph (meda) bone (asthi), marrow (majja) and seed of animals (male and female) or sperm (sukra) and covered with skin, ill-smelling and seat of dirt or filth. Though accomplished with innumerable enjoyments yet transforming. It is perishable. Repository (receptacle) of desire, anger, greed or covetousness, infatuation or delusion, arrogance, jealousy. (The body is) the combination of earth in the form of flesh etc., water in the form of blood (and other fluids), light (in the form of eye etc.) air or wind (in the form of five vital breaths) and ether (in the form of ear, mouth etc.). Consists of bones artery (sira or vein, nerve (dhamani), sinew or ligament or tendon (snayu), full of fluid, consisting of six kinds of thin skin covering the blood, flesh etc. There are 360 bones in the body. These are divided in the following way in the Jaw along with the teeth, 20 are the nails, 20 are stick like bones are in the hands and feet, 60 are finger bones in hands and feet. sixty are the knots (parvani) of fingers. Two bones are there in the heels (parsnyoh). 64 are There are four

126 bones in the ankles (gulfesu). Four bones (two in each) in the elbows (from the elbow to the tip of the little fingeraratni). The shanks (from the ankle to the knee) of the two Two legs have four (two in each) bones. Two bones are in two knees (janu) and two in the cheek (kapola or ganda). bones are in the thigh (one in each thigh- uru), and two in the shoulders. There are three bones one temporal bone (aksa), one in the palate and one in the hip (sroniphalaka), the generative organ (bhaga) has one bone. The backbone (Prasthasthi) consists of 25 bones. The neck (griva) contains 15 bones. The collar-bone and cartilages the breast bone (jatru) contain one bone. There is one bone at the chin (hanu or cibuka), and two bones are there at the root of the chins. There are six bones two in each of the brows (lalata or bhala), eyes (aksi) and between the eyes and temples (ganda). The nose has a hard bone called ghana. The part of the body below the armpit called parsvaka consists of 72 rib-bones known as arbuda and sthalaka (bones on the back). The chest contains 17 bones. Temporal bones (amkhaka) are two in number and the skull-bones (kapala) are four in the head. Thus the total number of bones go to 360. The body consists of 700 arteries or blood-vessel (sira), 900 senews or ligaments (snayu) and 200 nerves (dhamani), 500 muscles (Pesi), 2900956 arteries (ksudradhamani) There are 300000 pores (kupa) of beard, hair and bristles,

127 107 vitals or tenderpart (marma) in the body, 200 joints or articulations (sandhi), 6700054 points of hairs (romakoti). The navel (nabhi), virility or the generative faculty (ojah) anus (guda), semen verile (sukra), ovum (sonita) or male and female energy (sukra-sonita), the temporal bones (samkhakau), the head (murdha), the throat or neck (kantha), the heart or chest (hrdaya) are abodes or seats or receptacles (ayatana) of vital airs or life breaths (prana). The two arms (bahu), the two shanks (jangha), the middle of the body (madhya) and the head (sIrsa) are six limbs or auxiliaries (amgani) of the body fat of the flesh or suet (vasa), flesh (vapa), the left lung (avahanana), the navel (nabhi), the right lung (kloma), the liver (yakrt), the sleen (plina), the small intestine or entrail (ksudrantra), the two kidneys (vrkkakau), the bladder (basti), the rectum i.e. the receptacle of excrement (purisadhanam), the stomach i.e. the receptacle of undigested food (amasaya), the heart (hodaya), the big intestine (sthulantra), the anus (guda), the belly (udara), entrails (gudakostha), the pupils of the two eyes (kaninike), the prominent part of the forehead above the eye, i.e. eye lashes (aksikute), the orifice of the ear (saskuli), the ears (karnau), the lobe of the ears (karnapatra-kau), the cheeks (gandau), the eyebrows (bhruvau) the temporal bones i.e. temples (samkhau). The gums of the upper and lower jaw (dantavestau), the upper and lower lips (osthau), the cavities of the bins

128 (kakundare), the groins i.e. thigh joints (vanksanau) the scrotum i.e. the testicles (vrsanau), the kydneys (vrkkau), the breasts (of women), the uvula or soft palate (upajihva), the buttocks (sphicau), the arms (bahu), the shanks (jamghe), the thighs (uru), the fleshy part of the thighs and shanks (pindike), the upper part of the palate (taludara), the tubelike apertures of the bladder (bastisirsau), the cheeks (cibuka), the soft palate or uvula (galasundike) and the back or nape of the neck (avatu). The sound, touch (tangibility), form or colour, savour (taste) and odour are the worldly or sensual objects or the pleasures of sense. The nose, eye, skin, tongue and ears are the organs of perception. The hands, feet, organ of excretion (payu), the organ of generation (upastha) and the tongue (organ of speech) are the organs of action. The mind, buddhi and soul (atma) and avyakta are beyound perception. The body, o' earth, be known as the abode or as the field of the working of the soul and who knows this he is called the knower (ksetrajna). Know me, o virtuous lady, to be the all knower (Ksetrajna) of all the beings. A person desirous of emancipation should know both the individual and the all-knower (ksetra-ksetrajna).

129 Chapter XCVII : It is stated in the former chapter that one, desirous of final liberation, should know (realise) the atma (the supreme). The means of such realisation are discussed in this chapter. The mental exercise to be practised in endeavouring to bring to his thoughts the gross form of Eternal. We find here in this chapter a hint to the samkhya philosophy. The procedure of meditation is the mental exercise practised by one in endeavouring No. of sutra-21 to bring before his thoughts the gross form of Eternal (niralambana dhyana). If it is not possible, the mental representation of the personal attributes viz. Earth, water light, air, ether etc. are to be meditated. If that also not possible one should meditate the self within one's heart in the form of a lamp (dipa). If that is also not possible one should meditate upon vasudeva in a personified form. The meditation upon vasudeva is praised. Chapter XCVIII ; Goddess Earth praises vasudeva in this chapter. Goddess Earth besought to be one of the five elements bhutas) and to get a place in the feet The (mahaNo. of sutra-102 of vasudeva as he holds the other four great elements viz. the ether (akasa) in the form of the conch, air or wind (vayu) in the form of the discus or wheel (cakra) light (tejah) in the form of the mace

130 (gada) and water in the form of the lotus (ambhoruha). vasudeva favoured Earth by fulfilling her desire and she God also eulogised with ninety six epithets (from sutra 6 to 10). Chapter XCIX : Goddess Earth then praises Laksmi. Earth praises Laksmi who is massaging the lotus-feet She extolled the divine beauty of Laksmi. Earth of Vasudeva. perceives the identity of Laksmi and Vasudeva as sakti and saktimat, still No. of sutra-23 she enquired about the abode of Laksmi, Laksmi in reply states the places of her abode. she also states that she always resides by the side of Madhusudana. Different places and articles are enumerated as the abode of Laksmi. At last Laksmi states that she resides inseparably with Madhusudana i.e. Vasudeva. Chapter - C: The Merits of the study of the work is described. This work is the best of all other dharmasastra works as it is stated by the God himself. The twice-born who holds this sacred book in his possession i.e. who knows this sastra attains heaven. This sacred book is pure, auspicious, leading to No. of Sutra-5 happiness (svargya), bestower of longivity, knowledge, fame, wealth and fortune. This sacred book should be preserved and be heard in a sraddha by persons. who desire prosperity. I (i.e. God) give you O'Earth, this

131 I have given you this knowledge for The merits to be accrued in mysterious knowledge. the benefit of the universe. this world as well as after death by studying and knowing this sacred book are delineated by the supreme Being to the Goddess Earth.