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106
VASISHTHA.
XX, 25.
become males; therefore they offer burnt-oblations for the production of males.'
25. Let the slayer of a learned Brâhmana kindle a fire and offer (therein the following eight oblations, consisting of portions of his own body),
26. The first (saying), 'I offer my hair to Death, I feed Death with my hair ;' the second (saying), 'I offer my skin to Death, I feed Death with my skin ;' the third (saying), 'I offer my blood to Death, I feed Death with my blood;' the fourth (saying), 'I offer my flesh to Death, I feed Death with my flesh;' the fifth (saying), 'I offer my sinews to Death, I feed Death with my sinews;' the sixth (saying), 'I offer my fat to Death, I feed Death with my fat;' the seventh (saying), ' I offer my bones to Death, I feed Death with my bones;' the eighth (saying), 'I offer my marrow to Death, I feed Death with my marrow.'
27. (Or) let him (fight) for the sake of the king, or for the sake of Brahmanas, and let him die in battle with his face turned to the foe).
28. It is declared in the Veda, '(A murderer) who remains thrice unvanquished or is thrice defeated (in battle) becomes pure.'
29. 'A sin which is openly proclaimed becomes smaller.'
see e. g. Âsvalâyana I, 13. The Sätra is marked as a quotation, and probably belongs to some Vedic work.
25. Apastamba I, 9, 25, 12. 27. Gautama XXII, 8. 28. Âpastamba I, 9, 24, 21.
29. Taken by itself the Satra would seem to refer to the maxim that a free confession reduces the guilt of the offender (Manu XI, 228). But on account of the next Sutra it is necessary to assume, with Krishnapandita, that half the guilt of a crime, of which another man justly accuses an offender, falls on the accuser, while the
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