History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c34.111

v2.c34.111

The earth to be employed (like soap) for cleansing the body was to be obtained from a pure place and not from an¹⁵⁷⁵ ant-hill or from places infested by mice, nor from under water, nor from the public road, nor from the bottom of a tree, nor from near temples, nor out of what was left by some person after using a portion for his own śauca and is to be invoked with two verses ‘aśvakrānte¹⁵⁷⁶ &c.’ Laghu-Hārīta (v. 70-71) says ‘earth secured after digging eight aṅgulas from the surface should be used, all earth is pure which is taken from a place not frequented by people and that ten kinds of earth should not be used at the time of bathing’ (verses 72-73).