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VASISHTHA.
XXIII, 19.
19. “He who attempts suicide, but remains alive, shall perform a Krikkhra penance during twelve days. (Afterwards) he shall fast for three (days and) nights, being dressed constantly in a garment smeared (with clarified butter), and suppressing his breath, he shall thrice recite the Aghamarshana ;'
20. Or, following the same rule, he may also frequently recite the Gayatri ;
21. Or, having kindled a fire, he may offer clarified butter with the Kushmândas.
22. “And the guilt (of) all (offences) excepting mortal sins is removed thereby.'
23. Now he may also sip water in the morning, thinking of the Mantra), “May fire and wrath and the lords of wrath protect me,' &c., and meditating on his sin; (then) he may mutter the Vyâhritis that end with satya (truth), prefixing (the syllable) Om (to each), or he may recite the Aghamarshana.
24. If he touches a human bone to which fat still adheres, he becomes impure during three (days and) nights;
25. But (on touching a bone) to which no fat adheres, a day and a night,
26. Likewise if he has followed a corpse (to the burial-ground).
27. If he passes between men reciting the Veda, he shall fast during a day and a night.
28. (Those who recite the Veda) shall sprinkle each other with water and stay away (from their houses) during three (days and) nights.
22. Regarding the efficacy of the Kûshmânda texts, see above, XXII, 9.
23. The text occurs Taitt. Âr. X, 24, 1. 24-25. Manu V, 87; Vishnu XXII, 75. 26. Manu V, 101.
28. Gautama I, 58.
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