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178
LAWS OF MANU.
V, 59.
59. It is ordained (that) among Sapindas the impurity on account of a death (shall last) ten days, (or) until the bones have been collected, (or) three days or one day only.
60. But the Sapinda-relationship ceases with the seventh person in the ascending and descending lines), the Samânodaka-relationship when the (common) origin and the (existence of a common family)name are no (longer) known.
61. As this impurity on account of a death is prescribed for (all) Sapindas, even so it shall be (held) on a birth by those who desire to be absolutely pure.
62. (Or while) the impurity on account of a death is common to all (Sapindas), that caused by a birth (falls) on the parents alone; (or) it shall fall on the mother alone, and the father shall become pure by bathing;
Nâr., Kull., and Râgh. think that on account of the second ka, 'or,' the words of the initiation' must be understood.
59. The bones of a Brâhmana are collected on the fourth day; see Vi. XIX, 10. The commentators are of opinion that the length of the period of impurity depends, in accordance with the express teaching of other Smritis, on the status of the mourner, and that a man who knows the Mantras only of one Sakhâ shall be impure during four days, one who knows a whole Sâkhâ (or two Vedas) during three days, one who knows the Veda (or three Vedas) and keeps three or five sacred fires, during one day. Medh., however, mentions another interpretation, according to which the four periods correspond to the four ages of the deceased, which have been mentioned in the preceding verse. According to this view the Sapindas shall mourn for an initiated person ten days, for one who had received the tonsure four days, &c. But sce verse 67.
61-62. Mech. and Gov. have only one verse instead of the two: ganane 'py evam syân mâtâpitros tu sûtakam 1 sûtakam mâtur eva syâd upasprisya pitä sukih 11 Even thus it shall be (held) on a birth, or the impurity shall fall on the parents alone,
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