Manava Dharmashastra 5.113

5.113

yathārham | yasya yadarhati, yena yasya malamapakraṣṭuṃ śakyata ityarthaḥ | ata eva smṛtyantaroktamapi labhyate "vāhnīyāstrapusīsakavikārā gomayataṣairiti" | yathā-
"gavāghrātāni kāṃsyāni śūdrocchiṣṭāni yāni ca | śuddhyanti daśabhiḥ kṣāraiḥ śvakākopahatāni ca ||" iti |
ata eva kṣārabhedāśca kāñjikadāḍimādiyojitāḥ siddhā bhavanti |

Of copper, iron, brass, pewter and tin, the purification should be done, according to suitability, by means of alkaline substances, of liquid acids and of water.—(113).

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘According to suitability’.—According to what may be suitable to a particular thing; i.e., that substance should be used for cleaning which is best fitted to remove the dirt from the object to be cleaned. It is for this reason that in another Smṛti we find it stated that—‘things made of tin and lead are to be cleansed by means of cow-dung and chaff.’ Similarly—‘Brass-articles smelt by the cow, or defiled by the food-leavings of the Śūdra, or defiled by dogs and cows become cleansed by means of alkaline substances.’ It is with a view to this that we have the various varieties of alkalines, such as those prepared out of gruel, or of pomegranates and so forth.—(113).

(Verse 114 of others.)

This verse is quoted in Mitākṣarā (on 1.190);—in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 805);—and in Śuddhikaumudī, (p. 305), which explains ‘Kṣāra’ as ‘ashes’—‘amlodaka’ as the juice of lemon and such things, this latter goes with ‘tāmra’ and ‘kṣārodaka’ with rest ,—washing goes with all,—‘yathārham’ sufficient to remove dirt and soiling.

Comparative notes by various authors
Baudhāyana (1.8.33).—(See under 111.)

Vaśiṣṭha (3.58, 63).—‘A woman is purified by her courses, a river by its current, brass by ashes, and earthenware by heating again. Copper is cleansed by acids.’

Viṣṇu (23.25, 26).—Vessels of copper, bell-metal, tin and lead are cleansed with acidulated water;—vessels of white copper and iron with ashes.’

Yājñavalkya (1.190).—‘Tin, lead and copper are cleansed by acids and water and ashes; hell-metal and iron by ashes and water; a liquid substance by over-flowing.’

Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Aparārka, p. 269).—‘Liquid substances should he made to overflow with water; grains, vegetables, roots and fruits should he washed with water, after throwing away the defiled portion.’

Śaṅkha (Do.).—‘Clarified butter and oil should be melted; milk should be flooded over; vessels should be washed with water; as also vegetables, fruits and roots... There is no defilement for curds, clarified butter, milk and Takra when those are contained in large vessels.’

Laugākṣi (Do.).—‘Milk, curds and their preparations are purified by being placed in another vessel; also by being flooded over, or passed though cloth or heating on fire.’

Yama (Do.).—‘Raw meat, clarified butter, honey, oils of fruits—these are impure while contained in vessels belonging to Mlecchas, but pure as soon as taken out of those vessels.’

Vṛddha-Śātātapa (Do., p. 270).—‘For clarified butter and oils, heating; for milk, flooding; curd and thickened milk are purified by throwing out the defiled part.’