Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

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

Page 13

Vol. XXX, 2006
HISTORY AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES OF USANAS
Fort: See: Trivarga Spies:
Uśanas has referred to 8 kinds of spies vis-à-vis 5 kinds referred to by Manu. Kalpataru on Rājadharma, p. 108 quotes 2 verses of Uśanas in which the 8 types of spies are mentioned.46 Army:The army of Bhārgavas or Angirasas consists of 16 types (sodaśānga).47
Social Institutions
Purity:
Niyoga:- Uśanas has been quoted by Haradatta on Gautama Dharma Sūtra 18.5. These passages are not given in the ms. given by Kane. It is quite possible that the institution of Niyoga which was known to the law of Uśanas was loosing ground and hence mss. were omitting the passages. The same position is available in the Mahābhārata particularly in the context of the text of inheritance.48
Sūtaka:- Uśanas dharmaśāstra quotes very often the views of others with the words "eke'; for example it says < the impurity on birth is ten nights for the parents of the child but according to some it is only for the mother. > 49 Instant sauca:
In the Ms. No. 644 of Visrambag (1) in the Deccan College there is a fragment of Uśanas where we read <upasprsya....... manurāha.. Bāle deśāntarasthe vorādhvāne?? Anāšakegnipraveśe ca sadyah saucam > occurs in Manu 5.78 in the same connection.50 For the rest compare Manu. 5.93 & 5.95.51 This ms. is either influenced by Manu or is important for its dharmaśāstra for migrants who are in a haste to finish the details of the prescription and are following the doctrine of Instant purity. According to Kane,” we must probably read deśāntarasthe ca Sāgnike."52 Āśakeca sadyaḥ śaucam The context of the bhāņdaśauca in śrāddha shows that Uśanas had been laying stress on the purity particularly those of the utensils which are placed on the ground by the cowdung:53 Uśanas has an independent opinion regarding the washing of the teeth. In his opinion quoted in the Smrticandrikā, one should neither break the wooden stick meant for washing the teeth nor one should wash the teeth with the fingers.54