| Manusmriti |
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| Scriptures |
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Manusmriti: The Laws of Manu |
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| 81.
If either he fights at least three times (against robbers in defence
of) a Brahmana's (property), or reconquers the whole property of a
Brahmana, or if he loses his life for such a cause, he is freed
(from his guilt). 82.
He who thus (remains) always firm in his vow, chaste, and of
concentrated mind, removes after the lapse of twelve years (the
guilt of) slaying a Brahmana. 83.
Or he who, after confessing his crime in an assembly of the gods of
the earth (Brahmanas), and the gods of men (Kshatriyas), bathes
(with the priests) at the close of a horse-sacrfice, is (also) freed
(from guilt). 84.
The Brahmana is declared (to be) the root of the sacred law and the
Kshatriya its top; hence he who has confessed his sin before an
assembly of such men, becomes pure. 85.
By his origin alone a Brahmana is a deity even for the gods, and
(his teaching is) authoritative for men, because the Veda is the
foundation for that. 86.
(If) only three of them who are learned in the Veda proclaim the
expiation for offences, that shall purify the (sinners); for the
words of learned men are a means of purfication. 87.
A Brahmana who, with a concentrated mind, follows any of the (above
mentioned) rules, removes the sin committed by slaying a
Brahmana through his self control. 88.
For destroying the embryo (of a Brahmana, the sex of which was)
unknown, for slaying a Kshatriya or a Vaisya who are (engaged in or)
have fiered a (Vedic) sacrfice, or a (Brahmana) woman who has bathed
after temporary uncleanness (Atreyi), he must perform the same
penance, 89.
Likewise for giving false evidence (in an important cause), for
passionately abusing the teacher, for stealing a deposit, and for
killing (his) wife or his friend: 90.
This expiation has been prescribed for unintentionally killing a
Brahmana; but for intentionally slaying a Brahmana no atonement is
ordained. |
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