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XI, 85.
PENANCES FOR MURDER.
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80. He who unhesitatingly abandons life for the sake of Brahmanas or of cows, is freed from the guilt of) the murder of a Brahmana, and (so is he) who saves (the life of) a cow, or of a Brâhmana.
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 Brâhmana.
83. Or he who, after confessing his crime in an assembly of the gods of the earth (Brâhmanas), and the gods of men (Kshatriyas), bathes (with the priests) at the close of a horse-sacrifice, is (also) freed (from guilt).
84. The Brâhmana 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.
80. This holds good also before the twelve years' penance is finished (Gov., Kull., Nár.).
83. Gov. holds that this penance is efficacious only if the offender is engaged in the performance of the twelve years' penance. Kull. and Ragh. think that it is a separate penance, because the subject of the twelve years' penance has been finished in the preceding verse, and because the Bhavishyapurâna specially prescribes it for an eminent Brâhmana who unintentionally causes the death of a worthless caste-fellow. Medh. mentions both opinions, and states that he believes the penance to be efficacious in any case.
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