Manava Dharmashastra 5.38

5.38

tāvatīrjanmanāmāvṛttīrmāraṇaṃ prāpnoti | vṛthāpaśughnaḥ śrutismṛtyoracoditaṃ paśuvadhaṃ yaḥ karoti | tacca prakaraṇānmahānavamyādiṣu laukikairyatkriyate | 'paśughna' iti kapratyaye chāndasaṃ rūpam |

As many hairs there are on the body of the animal, so m any times after dying does its needless killer suffer violent death, birth after birth.—(38.)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
For so many lives does he suffer violent death.

‘Needless killer of the animal’,—one who kills the animal in a way not prescribed in the Śruti or the Smṛti: from the context it is clear that this refers to that animal-sacrifice which ordinary people perforin on the Mahānavamī.

The term ‘paśaghna (?)’ is a Vedic form formed with the affix ‘ka’—(38).

Cf. The Mahābhārata 13.93.121.

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 538).

Comparative notes by various authors
Viṣṇu (51.60).—(Same as Manu.)

Yājñavalkya (1.180).—‘The wicked man who kills animals unlawfully dwells in hell for as many days as there are hairs on the animal’s body.’

Mahābhārata (13.93.121).—(Same as Manu.)