History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.84

v3.c40.84

Gaut. 17. 29 and 34-35, Āp. Dh. S. I. 5. 17. 32-34, Vas. Dh. S. 14. 48, Viṣṇu Dh. S. 51. 29-31, Manu V. 11-14, Yāj. I. 172-175 contain long lists of birds the flesh of which was forbidden and of those the flesh of which was allowed. A few of these may be noted. All birds that subsist on raw flesh (vultures &c.), the *cātaka*, parrot, *haṁsa*, all birds that dwell in a village (such as pigeons), *baka*, birds that scratch dunghills for food are forbidden; while wild cocks and peacocks were permitted. On Jaimini V. 3. 26-28 Śabara quotes a Vedic text that one who has constructed the fire altar (*agnicit*) should not eat the flesh of birds till the sacrifice he has embarked on is finished.