Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 11

Vol. XXX, 2006
HISTORY AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES OF USANAS
midst of the 2nd chapter. In the 2nd ms. also the first folio is wanting and there are gaps in the IVth chapter. It is noteworthy that the 2nd folio of the 2nd ms. begins just at the beginning of the 2nd folio of the first. The work is a brief on (8 folios) in seven adhyayas. Their contents are:
II. impurity on birth and death; purification of certain things in certain ways as with water, ashes etc.
III. the four Varnas and the mixed castes such as rathakāra, ambastha, sūta, Ugra, Māgadha etc. i.e. the Vrātyas.
IV. No bodily injury to be done to Brāhmana; prāyaścitta for killing a Brāhmana or a man of the other castes and for other Mahāpātaka prāyaścitta for eating the flesh of certain animals and for eating plants like garlic, prāyaścitta for adultery. Moreover, there are discussions whether a Brāhmaṇa could marry a śūdra girl; prāyaścittas for killing for various beasts and birds; fourteen Vidyās;
V. śräddhakalpa; what Brāhmanas are Pankti-pāvana; details of śrāddha; food and flesh at śrāddha;
VI. What things a Brāhmana could not sell;
VII. Punishment for the mahāpātakas; what are pure things at all times. 34 In the context of āhnika, Uśanas has been quoted in Smrticandrikā.
Anadhyāya:
Smộticandrikā quotes prose passages on Uśanas on anadhyāya. 35 It is a prohibition the first four muhurtas of trayodasi. Haradatta has quoted a passage of Uśanas on Āpastamba Dharma Sūtra. 1.3.10.136
Dandanīti:
In the opinion of Mahābhārata : Bhismaparvan. there is only one and the sole niti of Uśanas37
Vidyās:
The vidyās mentioned by Uśanas are fourteen in number. They are the six angas, four Vedas, Mīmāmsā, Nyāya, Dharmaśāstra and the Purānas. It will be noted that there is a sloka from sadangāh which almost the same as Y/1.3.38