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The Sacred Laws of the Âryas: Vasishtha - Chapter XXVIII
1. A woman is not defiled by a lover, nor a Brâhmana by Vedic rites, nor water by urine and ordure, nor fire by consuming (impure substances).1
2-3. A wife, (though) tainted by sin, whether she be quarrelsome, or have left the house, or have suffered criminal force, or have fallen into the hands of thieves, must not be abandoned; to forsake her is not prescribed (by the sacred law). Let him wait for the time of her courses; by her temporary uncleanness she becomes pure.2
4. Women (possess) an unequalled means of purification; they never become (entirely) foul. For month by month their temporary uncleanness removes their sins.3
5. Women belong first to three gods, Soma (the moon), the Gandharva, and Fire, and come afterwards into the possession of men; according to the law they cannot be contaminated.4
6. Soma gave them cleanliness, the Gandharva their melodious voice, and Fire purity of all (limbs); therefore women are free from stains.5
7. Those versed in the sacred law state that there are three acts (only) which make women outcasts, (viz.) the murder of the husband, slaying a learned Brâhmana, and the destruction of the fruit of their womb.6
8. A calf is pure when the milk flows, a bird when it causes fruit to fall, women during dalliance, and a dog when he catches a deer.7
9. Pure is the mouth of a goat and of a horse, pure is the back of a cow, pure are the feet of a Brâhmana, but women are pure in all (limbs)8
10. I will now declare the purificatory texts (which are found) in each Veda; by muttering them or reciting them at a burnt-oblation (men) are doubtlessly cleansed (from sin).9
11. (They are) the Aghamarshana, the Devakrita, the Suddhavatîs, the Taratsamas, the Kûshmândas, the Pâvamânîs, and the Durgâsâvitri;
12. The Atîshaṅgas, the Padastobhas, and the Sâmans (called) Vyâhriti, the Bhârunda Sâmans, the Gâyatra (Sâman), and the Raivata;10
13. The Purushavrata and the Bhâsa, and likewise the Devavrata (Sâmans), the Abliṅga, the Bârhaspatya, the hymn addressed to Vâk, likewise the Rikas (called) Madhu;11
14. The Satarudriya, the Atharvasiras, the Trisuparna, the Mahâvrata, the Gosûkta, and the Asvasûkta, and the two Sâmans (called) Suddhâsuddhîya.12
15. The three (Sâmans called) Âgyadohas, the Rathantara, the Agnervrata, the Vâmadevya, and the Brihat, being muttered, purify (all) living beings. (He who sings them) may obtain the recollection of former existences, if he desires it.
16. Gold is the firstborn of Fire, through Vishnu exists the earth, and the cows are children of the Sun; he who bestows as gifts gold, a cow, and land will obtain rewards without end for them.
17. A cow, a horse, gold, (and) land, bestowed on an unlearned Brâhmana who neglects his sacred duties, prevent the giver (from attaining heaven).13
18-19. (If he presents), on the full moon of the month of Vaisâkha, (to) seven or five Brâhmanas, black or white sesamum grains (mixed) with honey, (saying), 'May the king of justice (Yama) rejoice!' or (expressing) some other (wish) which he may have in his mind, the guilt which he has incurred during his (whole) life will instantly vanish.
20. But hear (now) the reward of the merit acquired by that man who gives the skin of a black antelope, to which the hoofs are (still) attached and the navel of which is adorned with gold, covering it with sesamum grains.14
21. 'Without doubt he has bestowed (through that gift) the four-faced earth, together with its caves filled with gold, and together with its mountains, groves, and forests.'15
22. He who, placing on the skin of a black antelope, sesamum, gold, honey, and butter, gives it to a Brâhmana, overcomes all sin.'
Footnotes
1. 'Is not defiled by a lover,' i.e. does not become irrevocably an outcast, but may be restored to her position after performing a penance, provided her lover was a man of equal caste.--Krishnapandita.
2. For the last clause compare Yâgñavalkya I, 72.
3. See above, V, 3-4.
4. Pâraskara Grihya-sûtra I, 4, 16
5. Yâgñavalkya I, 71.
6. Yâgñavalkya I, 72.
7. Vishnu XXIII, 49.
8. Vishnu XXIII, 40.
9. Vishnu LVI, and preface, p. xviii. The explanation of the various terms used will be found in the notes to Professor Jolly's translation of Vishnu.
10. MSS. and Krishnapandita, Abhishaṅgâh. Krishnapandita and MS. B. bhâradandâni; E. bhâdâni; Bh. and F. omit vv. 12 and 13 a.
11. Krishnapandita and B. artvigam; Bh. E. F. as above. The Bhâsa begins, according to Krishnapandita, agne vratapate.
12. Krishnapandita and B. indrasuddhe; Bh. E. F. suddhamsuddhena.
13. Manu IV, 190, 193-194. Krishnapandita and MSS. B. and E. read uparudanti dâtâram, MSS. Bh. and F. uparundanti. I change the latter reading to uparundhanti. 18-19. Vishnu XC, 10.
14. Vishnu LXXXVII, 8-10, and Professor Jolly's preface, p. xviii.
15. 'The four-faced earth,' i.e. the earth which is surrounded by the four oceans.
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