History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.160.4

v3.c40.160.4

If a rajasvalā is touched by a cāṇḍāla or by any of the antyajas, or by a dog or crow, she has to be without food till she bathes on the 4th day (Aṅgiras 47, Atri 277-279, Āpastamba VII. 5-8). If a woman is suffering from fever and becomes a rajasvalā she is not to be bathed on the 4th day to purify her; her purification is to be effected by another healthy woman, who touches her and then herself bathes with her clothes on and this is done ten or twelve times and each time there is sipping of water; then the woman who is ill has her clothes removed and new ones put on and then gifts are made according to ability and she becomes pure (Uśanas quoted in Mit. on Yāj. III. 20). Similar verses occur in Aṅgiras 22-23. The same procedure is followed where a male who is ill is touched by a rajasvalā or for some other cause he has to undergo the purification of a bath, viz. a healthy male touches him seven or ten times and bathes after each touch, at the end of which the sickly person is to be declared to be free from the impurity (Aṅgiras 21, Parāśara VII. 19-20 quoted in Mit. on Yāj. III. 20). If a rajasvalā dies, then the corpse should be bathed with the five products of the cow (pañcagavya), she should be covered with another garment and then should be cremated (a verse quoted by the Mit. on Yāj. III. 20), while Aṅgiras (42) said that the corpse should be bathed after three days and then it should be cremated. The Mit. on Yāj. III.