History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.15

v5.c71.s1.15

The sages of the Ṛgveda were acutely conscious of sin or guilt and pray to the gods, particularly to Varuṇa and the Ādityas, for forgiveness and for being freed from the consequences of sin In this connection they employ numerous words such as *āgas, enas, agha, durita, duṣkṛta, drugdha, aṁhas.* A few examples of the employment of these words may be cited here. The most frequent words are *āgas* and *enas*, both of which appear to import sin in its deepest and most ethical sense. Ṛg. VII 86 is a hymn to Varuṇa in which there are several verses that breathe a deep and heart-felt consciousness of guilt. The sage begins in verse 3 by saying that all wise men of whom he inquired told him the same thing viz. 'Varuṇa is angry with you'. Then the sage proceeds 'O Varuṇa! what is that great guilt (āgas) (of mine) whereby you desire to injure your worshipper and a friend? Declare that to me, then I shall quickly approach thee with an obeisance and be free from sin (*enas*). Cast away from us the transgressions (*drugdha*) of our father and those that we committed in our own person;...free Vasiṣṭha (from guilt) like a calf from the rope (that binds it)'. In Ṛg. VII. 89.5 (almost equal to Atharva-veda VI. 51.3) the sage says 'whatever transgressions (abhidroha) we who are mere men have practised as against the divine hosts and whatever dharmas laid down by you we may have confounded through our ignorance (or heedlessness) do not destroy us on account of that guilt (*enas*).' It will be noticed that in these verses the words *āgas, abhidroha* and *enas* are employed in the same verses and therefore practically mean the same thing. In Ṛg. II. 27.14 the sage prays 'O Aditi! O Mitra! O Varuṇa! take pity on us though we may have committed some sin against you'. In Ṛg. II. 28 5 Varuṇa is implored to loosen sin (*āgas*) from the devotee just like a girdle. Ṛg. VIII. 45.34 states: 'O Indra! do not kill us for one sin, for two sins or three sins or for many (āgas).' In Ṛg II. 29.1 the Ādityas are implored⁶ 'cast away from me sin (āgas) as a woman who gives birth to a child in secret'. For some other passages in which *āgas* or its opposite *anāgas* occurs, vide Ṛg. I. 162.22, I. 185 8, II.29.5, IV. 12.4, IV 54 3, VII. 51 1, VII. 57 4, V. 85.⁷, VII. 87 7, VII. 93 7, X 36 12, X. 37 7 and 9. *Āgas* and *enas* are employed in the same verse, Ṛg. IV.12.4 'O Agni! Whatever sin (āgas) we may have committed through heedlessness make us free from it before Aditi and loosen from us our sins (*enas*) from all sides'.