| Manusmriti |
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| Scriptures |
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Manusmriti: The Laws of Manu |
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| 241.
Insects, snakes, moths, bees, birds and beings, bereft of motion,
reach heaven by the power of austerities. 242.
Whatever sin men commit by thoughts, words, or deeds, that they
speedily burn away by penance, if they keep penance as their only
riches. 243.
The gods accept the offerings of that Brahmana alone who has purified
himself by austerities, and grant to him all he desires. 244.
The lord, Pragapati, created these Institutes (of the sacred law) by
his austerities alone; the sages likewise obtained (the revelation
of) the Vedas through their austerities. 245.
The gods, discerning that the holy origin of this whole (world) is
from austerity, have thus proclaimed the in-comparable power of
austerity. 246.
The daily study of the Veda, the performance of the great sacrifices
according to one's ability, (and) patience (in sfiering) quickly
destroy all guilt, even that caused by mortal sins. 247. As afire in one moment consumes with its bright flame the fuel that has been placed on it, even so he who knows the Veda destroys all guilt by the fire of knowledge. 248.
The penances for sins (made public) have been thus declared
according to the law; learn next the penances for secret (sins). 249.
Sixteen suppressions of the breath (Pranayama) accompanied by (the
recitation of) the Vyahritis and of the syllable Om, purify, if they
are repeated daily, after a month even the murderer of a learned
Brahmana. 250.
Even a drinker of (the spirituous liquor called) Sura becomes pure,
if he mutters the hymn (seen) by Kutsa, 'Removing by thy splendour
our guilt, O Agni,' , (that seen) by Vasishtha, 'With their hymns
the Vasishthas woke the Dawn,' , the Mahitra (hymn) and (the verses
called) Suddhavatis. |
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