History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s2.1.4

v1.c6.s2.1.4

5) relates³⁸ how Indra consigned Yatis to wolves (or dogs) and how Prajāpati prescribed a Prāyaścitta for him. The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa speaks of the king and the learned Brāhmaṇa as the upholder of the sacred ordinances.³⁹ The Taittirīyasaṁhitā says 'therefore the Śūdra is not fit for sacrifice'.⁴⁰ The Aitareya Brāhmaṇa tells us that when a king or other worthy guest comes, people offer a bull or a cow.⁴¹ The Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa speaks of Vedic study as *yajña* and the Taittirīya-āraṇyaka⁴² enumerates the five *yajñas*, which are a prominent feature of the Manusmṛti. The Ṛgveda eulogises the gifts of a cow, horses, gold and clothes.⁴³ Another passage of the Ṛgveda⁴⁴ (thou art like a *prapā* in a desert) is relied upon by Śabara on Jaimini (I. 3. 2) and by Viśvarūpa on Yājñavalkya as ordaining the maintenance of *prapās* (places where water is distributed to travellers). The Ṛgveda condemns the selfish man who only caters for himself.⁴⁵