z:\ ambedkar\vol 04\vol4 06.indd MK SJ DK 23 9 2013/YS 9 11 2013 319
RIDDLE NO. 24
“6. The initiation for a sattra. “7. The taking a Kamandalu (a jar for water [1] )” “8. Starting on the Great Journey.” [2] “9. The killing of a cow in the sacrifice called Gomedha;” [3] “10. The partaking of wine even in the Srautmani sacrifice.” [4]
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11-12. Licking the ladle (sruc) after the Agnihotra Homa in order to take off the remains of the offerings and using the ladle, in the agnihotra afterwards when it has been so licked.” [5]
“13. Entering into the stage of forest hermit as laid down in sastras about it.” [6]
“14. Lessening the periods of impurity (due to death and birth) in accordance with the conduct and vedic learning of a man.” [7]
“15. Prescribing death as the penance (Prayascitta) for Brahmanas.” [8]
“16. Explanation (by secretly performed Prayascittas) of the mortal sins other than theft (of gold) and the sin of contact (with those guilty of Mahapatakas).” [9]
“17. The act of offering with Mantras animal flesh to the bridegroom, the guest, and the pitrs.” [10]
1 Baudhayana-dharmasutra (1.3-4) prescribes among the observances of Snatakas (those who have finished their study and have married or are about to marry) that they should carry a (earthen or wooden) pot filled with water Vashishtha 12.14 and Manu 4.36 and Yaj. I 132 also do the same. The Madanaparijata (pp. 15 16) while ‘quoting some of these verses says that ‘Kamandaluvidharana’ refers to perpetual studenthood, but that is not correct, since in the Naradiya-purana quoted above note 5,) the two are separately mentioned as forbidden.
2 This refers to the practice of starting towards the north-east in the case of those who had become forestdwellers (vide Manu VI. 31 and Yaj. 111. 55) and the practice of old men killing themselves by starting on the great journey till the body falls, by falling from a percipice or by entering the Ganges at a holy place like Prayaga or by entering fire. Vide Apararka p. 536 where the Smriti passages allowing this are quoted. Note that Sudraka, the reputed Author of the Mreccchakatika, is said to have entered fire and vide Raghuvamsa
8,94; Atri, verses 218-219 which are quoted even by Medhatithi on Manu V. 88; E. instances of kings throwing themselves into the Ganges at Prayaga.
3 Vide Sankhayana-srauta 14.15.1, Katyayanasrauta XXII, 11.3-4 and Manu XI. 74.
4 This is a sacrifice principally to Sutraman (i.e. Indra) in which three cups of wine were offered to the Asvins, Sarasvati and Indra and a Brahmana had to be hired for drinking the remnants of wine offered. Vide Taittiriya—Brahmana 1. 8.6.2, Sankhayana-Srauta 15.15-1-14 and Sabara on Purva mimansa-sutra
- 14-15.
5 Vide Tai-Br. II. 1.4. and Satyasadhastrauta for this.
6 Ap. Dharma-sutra. 11. 9.21. 18. II. 9. 23.2, Manu VI. 1-32, Vashishtha IX. I-II contain elaborate rules about this stage.
7 Vide Parasara quoted above saying that a Brahmana who is endowed with both vedic learning and agnihotra has to observe Assucha (mourning) only for one day and he who is only learned has to observe it for three days. Vide also Brahaspati quoted by Haradatta on Gautama 14.1. In Kali a flat rule of ten days for all came to be prescribed. Visvarupa on Yaj. III. 30 has an eleborate discussion on this text and ultimately gets rid of it by saying that it is only an arthavada meant to praise the absence of greed and presence of excellent conduct. It is not quite unreasonable to infer that if Visvarupa had attached any value to or known these verses on Kalivarjya he would not have failed to make use of them for explaining away Parasara.
8 Manu (II. 89 and 146) says that for wilfully killing a Brahmana and drinking wine the Prayachitta is death Gautama 21, 7 says-the same, following Manu.
9 Manu XI, 54 enumerates contact with those guilty of the four mahapataka, as a fifth mahapataka. Gautama 24 and Vashishtha 25 prescribe secret prayascittas even for mahapatakas like Brahmahatya. This rule says that there are no secret prayascittas in Kali for Brahmahatya, or drinking wine and for incest. Vide Apararka p. 1212 for rules as to who was entitled to secret prayascittas.
10 Madhuparka was offered to honoured guests among whom the bridegroom was included. Vide Gautama V, 25-35, Yaj. 1. 109. The offering of flesh of various animals in Sraddha was supposed to conduce to the enjoyment of pitrs. Vide Yaj. I. 258-260, Manu III. 123. According to Asvalayana Grhyasutra 1. 24-26 Madhuparka could not be offered without flesh. Vide Vashishtha IV. 5-6.