RIDDLE NO. 24 321
“29. [1] Going on a very distant pilgrimage.”
“30. Behaviour of a pupil towards his teacher’s wife as towards a teacher that is declared in smrtis” [2] .
“31. The maintenance by Brahamanas in adversity (by following unworthy avocations) and the mode of livelihood in which a Brahmana does not care to accumulate for tomorrow.” [3]
“32. [4] The acceptance of aranis (two wooden blocks for producing fire) by Brahmanas (in the Homa at the time of jatakarma) in order that all the ceremonies for the child from jatakarma to his marriage may be performed therein.” [5]
“33. Constant journeys by Brahamanas.”
“34. Blowing of fire with the mouth (i.e. without employing a bamboo dhamni.” [6]
“35. Allowing women who have become polluted by rape, &c, to freely mix in the caste (when they have performed prayascitta ) as declared in the sastric texts.” [7]
“36. [8] Begging of food by a sannayasin from persons of all Varnas (including sudra).” [9]
“37. To wait (i.e. not to use) for ten days water that has recently been dug in the ground.”
“38. Giving fee to the teacher as demanded by him (at the end of study) according to the rules laid down in the sastra.” [10]
“39. “The employment of sudras as cook for Brahmanas and the rest.” [12]
“40. Suicide of old people by calling from a precipice or into fire.” [13]
1 Kane’s Kalivarjya p. 14.
2 Manu 11. 210 prescribes that the wives of one’s teacher, if they are of the same Varna as the teacher, are to be honoured like the teacher and if they are not of the same Varna then by rising to receive them and by saluting them.
3 Gautama VII. 1-7, Ap. Dh. S. I. 7.20. 11-17, 21. 4, Yaj. III. 35.44 and others allow a Brahmana to live by the occupations of a Kshatriya or Vaishya in adversity. Manu IV. 7 places before a Brahmana the ideal that he should not accumulate more corn than what is required for three days or for the current day. Both these extremes are forbidden here.
4 Kane’s Kalivarjya p. 14.
5 The Samsakarya-kaustubha quotes a grhyaphrisista for this.
6 In Manu IV. 53 also the same prohibition occurs. In Vedic passages blowing at the fire with breath from the mouth direct was allowed. Vide Haradatta on Ap. Dh. S. 1.5.15.20.
7 Even so late a smrti a Devala’s (verse 47) allows a woman raped even by Mlecchas to become pure after prayaschitta for three days. The Adityapurana appears to be most harsh on innocent and unfortunate women.
8 Kane’s Kalivarjya p. 15.
9 Baudhayana-dharma-sutra II. 10 allows a Sannyasin to beg food from all Varnas, while Manu (VI. 43) and Yaj. 111. 59 prescribe that he should beg in a village in the evening and Vashishtha also (X. 7) requires him to beg at seven houses not selected beforehand. But Vasishta says a little later on (X. 24) that he should subsist on what he would get at the houses of Brahmanas.
10 Yaj. I. 51 prescribes that a student after finishing Vedic study and performing vratas should give fees to the teacher as the latter desires and should perform the ceremonial bath.
11 Kane’s Kalivarjya p. 15.
12 The Apastamba-dharmasutra II. 2.3.4 allowed sudras to be cooks for the three higher Varnas under the supervision of aryas.
13 Vide Item No. 8 above.