History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.838.1

v4.c63.t2.838.1

When during the latter half of the 19th century some brāhmaṇas went to England on a political mission or for study and returned to India, the question whether after taking the appropriate *prāyaścitta* those brāhmaṇas could be associated with fully as before was referred to many orthodox and learned *Paṇḍits* (such as the late Tārānātha Tarkavācaspati) and it is creditable to the Paṇḍits and gratifying to note that many of them came to the conclusion that they could be associated with by others. The two principal texts referred to were those of the Bṛhan-Nāradapurāṇa (note 1798 above) and the one from the Ādityapurāṇa translated at the head of this particular Kalivarjya. Very interesting and hairsplitting arguments and explanations were advanced by the learned Paṇḍits in 1872. Some of them may be noted here. As regards the Nāradīya passage, it is argued that only that seavoyage is forbidden in the Kali, which was a righteous act (*dharma*) in former times. In Parāśara-smṛti XII. 58 the following prāyaścitta¹⁸¹³ is prescribed for brāhmaṇa murder: 'the sinner should be directed to perform the penance of going to the *setu* on the ocean;