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314
LAWS OF MANU.
VIII, 342.
342. He who ties up unbound or sets free tied up (cattle of other men), he who takes a slave, a horse, or a carriage will have incurred the guilt of a thief.
343. A king who punishes thieves according to these rules, will gain fame in this world and after death unsurpassable bliss.
344. A king who desires to gain the throne of Indra and imperishable eternal fame, shall not, even for a moment, neglect (to punish) the man who commits violence.
345. He who commits violence must be considered as the worst offender, (more wicked) than a defamer, than a thief, and than he who injures (another) with a staff.
346. But that king who pardons the perpetrator of violence quickly perishes and incurs hatred.
347. Neither for friendship's sake, nor for the sake of great lucre, must a king, let go perpetrators of violence, who cause terror to all creatures.
348. Twice-born men may take up arms when (they are) hindered in the fulfilment of their duties, when destruction (threatens) the twice-born castes (varna) in (evil) times,
342. 'Takes a slave, &c.,'i.e. makes them do his work' (Nar.). The other commentators think of actual theft.
344. Sahasa, violence,' comprises according to Medh. robbery (see also above, verse 332), rape, arson, cutting clothes, or forcibly destroying property.
348–351. Gaut. VII, 25; Vas. III, 15-18, 24; Baudh. I, 18-23; Vi. V, 189-192.
348. I. e. when robbers and so forth do not allow the twice-born to offer sacrifices or to fulfil other sacred duties (Medh.), or when in times of a foreign invasion (Gov., Kull., Nár., Ragh.), or of a famine (Nar.), the twice-born castes are threatened by an improper intermixture (samkara).
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