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The Sacred Laws of the Âryas: Vasishtha - Chapter XXII
1. Now, indeed, man (in) this (world) speaks an untruth, or sacrifices for men unworthy to offer a sacrifice, or accepts what ought not to be accepted, or eats forbidden food, or practises what ought not to be practised.1
2. They are in doubt if he shall perform a penance for such (a deed), or if he shall not do it.
3. (Some) declare that he shall not do it,
4. Because the deed does not perish.
5. (The correct view is, that) he shall perform (a penance), because it is enjoined in the revealed texts,2
6. 'He who offers a horse-sacrifice conquers all sin, he destroys the guilt of the murder of a Brâhmana.'
7. (Moreover), 'Let an Abhisasta offer a Gosava or an Agnishtut-sacrifice,'
8. Reciting the Veda, austerity, a sacrifice, fasting, giving gifts are the means for expiating such a (blamable act).
9. (The purificatory texts are) the Upanishads, the Vedântas, the Samhitâ-text of all the Vedas, the (Anuvâkas called) Madhu, the (hymn of) Aghamarshana,3 the Atharvasiras, the (Anuvâkas called) Rudras, the Purusha-hymn, the two Sâmans called Râgana and Rauhineya, the Kûshmândas, the Pâvamânîs, and the Sâvitrî,
10. Now they quote also (the following verse): 'He who performs once in each season the offerings to Vaisvânara and Vratapati and the Pavitreshti sanctifies ten ancestors.'4
11. To live on milk alone, as if one were fasting, to eat fruit only, (to live on) barley gruel prepared of a handful of grain, to eat gold, to drink Soma (are modes of subsistence which) purify.5
12. All mountains, all rivers, holy lakes, places of pilgrimage, the dwellings of Rishis, cowpens, and temples of the gods (are) places (which destroy sin).
13. A year, a month, twenty-four days, twelve days, six days, three days, a day and a night are the periods (for penances).
14. These (acts) may be optionally performed when no (particular penance) has been prescribed,
15. (Viz.) for great sins difficult (penances), and for trivial faults easy ones.
16. The Krikkhra and the Atikrikkhra (as well as) the Kândrâyana are penances for all (offences).
Footnotes
1. As this chapter is almost identical with and probably copied from Baudhâyana III, 10, and Gautama XIX, the division of the Sûtras has not been made in accordance with Krishnapandita's commentary, but agrees with that of the chapter in Gautama's Dharmasâstra. The notes to the translation of the latter work must be consulted for the explanation of the more difficult passages.
2. The text appears here to be corrupt. After Sûtra 5, Baudhâyana III, 10, 6 (Gautama XIX, 7), Punah stomena yageta punah savanamâyântîti vigñâyate,' It is declared in the Veda, "Let him offer a Punahstoma-sacrifice, (those who offer it) again come to partake of (the libations of) Soma,"' has been left out. This omission caused the insertion of the words tasmâkkhrutinidarsanât [darsanât, Bh. F.], ('because it is enjoined in the revealed texts,') at the end of Sutra 5. The proof that the sixth Sûtra of Baudhâyana has been accidentally omitted is furnished by the fact That several MSS. of Vasishtha read iti ka after yo ’svamedhena yagate (Vas. XXII, 6). This ka has no meaning, except if another Vedic passage preceded Sutra. 6. In order to escape this difficulty, Krishnapandita writes yo ’svamedhena yagata iti, and begins the next Sûtra with iti ka, which he explains by 'moreover.'
3. Krishnapandita gives before 'Vedântas' another word vedâdayah, which he explains by 'the Vedas, Smritis, and Purânas.'
4. Krishnapandita takes the last word dasapûrusham to mean ten ancestors and ten descendants.
5. 'As if one were fasting,' i.e. in small quantities.--Krishnapandita.
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