History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c40.99

v3.c40.99

The above long lists of forbidden vegetables, meat, milk furnish examples of food that is *jātiduṣṭa* or *svabhāvaduṣṭa*. The rules about not eating stale and sour food illustrate food that is *kāladuṣṭa*. Any article of food which is mixed up with forbidden things like *palāṇḍu* or is in contact with unclean substances or food in which hair or an insect is found or in which excreta or the limb or tail of a mouse is found, food touched by a woman in her monthly course or in which a bird (like the crow) has thrust its beak or food touched by a dog or smelt by a cow or food from a house in mourning or from a family in impurity due to birth should be avoided (vide Āp. Dh. S. I. 5. 16. 19-20 and 24-29, Manu IV. 207-209, 212, 217, Yāj. I. 167-168). If a dog or an *apapātra* sees food which a man is eating or if a person when engaged in taking his meal sees a cāṇḍāla, a dog, a crow or a cock or a woman in her course, he should leave the food and get up. Manu (III. 239-240) says that a cāṇḍāla, a village hog or a village cock or a dog, a menstruating woman and an impotent person should not be allowed to see brāhmaṇas eating, whether in rites for gods or Manes, or at times of gifts. Kātyāyana says that if a brāhmaṇa hears the voice of a cāṇḍāla, a *patita*, or a woman in her course he should at once leave eating and if he eats even one morsel after hearing their voice he has to observe a fast for one day.¹⁸⁷⁸ The rules about not eating food from a house in mourning illustrate food that is *nimittaduṣṭa* (forbidden by reason of an occasion or chance reason); the other rules about food forbidden because of contact with unclean things or with garlic &c. exemplify *saṁsarga-duṣṭa* (forbidden because of contact) and the rules about avoiding food seen by a dog &c. are examples of *kriyā-duṣṭa* (forbidden on account of certain actions). The *smṛti* writers were not devoid of practical common sense. Baud. Dh. S. II. 7. 7 says that if in a heap of cooked food, hair, bits of nails or skin or insects or dung of rats is seen, then a lump from that part where these are seen should be taken out and the rest should have water sprinkled over it and holy ashes should be scattered over it and water should be again sprinkled over it and brāhmaṇas should then louldly declare the food to be all right and it may be then used for serving. Vaik.¹⁸⁷⁹ IX. 15 contains a similar direction. Parāśara VI. 71-74 says that cooked food (rice) amounting in quantity to one *droṇa* or one *āḍhaka*,¹⁸⁸⁰ if licked by a dog or by a crow or smelt by a cow or an ass, should not be thrown away, but should be purified and then used, and that the portion spoilt by touch &c. should be taken away from the whole mass, the rest should be sprinkled over with water in which a golden piece has been dipped and fire should be brought in contact with it (by ignited *darbha*) and brāhmaṇas should recite Vedic texts over it and then it may be served. Vas. Dh. S. 14. 23 and 25-26, Yāj. I. 189 and 191 contain similar rules.¹⁸⁸¹