Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c9.108

c9.108

In Baudh. the above mentioned indemnities form a part of the "duties of the king", but in Āp. 1, 24,¹ ff. they top the list of Prāyaścittas and the bull is given *prāyaścittārthaḥ* (another reading *prāyaścittārtham*) and in any case it was received by the Ācārya or the Dharmādhikārin who determined the indemnity while the cows as composition, probably even according to Āp., go to the family of the murdered person; Gaut.'s treatment of this question is more enigmatical (Gaut. 22,14—18). According to Y. 3,266 f., and M. 9, 128—131 the cows too are presented to a Brahman as Prāyaścitta, i.e. the blood-money has been completely changed into a spiritual atonement. Vas. and Vi. seem no longer to be acquainted with the blood-money even in this form and prescribe other Prāyaścittas in their place.