________________
398
LAWS OF MANU.
IX, 314.
when angered, could instantly destroy him together with his army and his vehicles.
314. Who could escape destruction, when he provokes to anger those (men), by whom the fire was made to consume all things, by whom the (water of the) ocean was made undrinkable, and by whom the moon was made to wane and to increase again?
315. Who could prosper, while he injures those (men) who provoked to anger, could create other worlds and other guardians of the world, and deprive the gods of their divine station ?
316. What man, desirous of life, would injure them to whose support the (three) worlds and the gods ever owe their existence, and whose wealth is the Veda ?
317. A Brâhmana, be he ignorant or learned, is a great divinity, just as the fire, whether carried forth (for the performance of a burnt-oblation) or not carried forth, is a great divinity.
318. The brilliant fire is not contaminated even in burial-places, and, when presented with oblations (of butter) at sacrifices, it again increases mightily.
property' (Medh., Nár.), or treating them with contumely' (Medh.). "They could destroy him,' i.e. "by magic rites and curses' (Kull.).
314. This verse refers to certain stories, told, as Medh. and Nar. point out, in the section of the Mahâbhârata, called Mokshadharmah XII, 344, 55, 57-58, 60-61. There it is said that Bhrigu made the fire consume all things, that the moon became consumptive' in consequence of the curse of Daksha, and that Vadavamukha made the ocean salt in punishment for his disobedience.
315. This verse also contains allusions to the Mahâbhârata. Visvâmitra tried to create other worlds (Medh.), the Vâlakhilyas another Indra and Vậyu, and others deprived the gods of their station. With respect to the latter point, Râgh. quotes the story of Mândavya cursing Yama (Mahâbhârata I, 108, 16), and causing him to be born as a Sadra.
316. See above, I, 93-95.
Digitized by Google
