History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.275

v5.c71.s1.275

The commentators discuss the question about the persons who have *adhikāra* (capacity) for having penances prescribed for them Since Manu XI. 44 (prāyaścittīyate naraḥ) and Yāj III. 219 (naraḥ patanam-ṛcchati) both employ the word 'man' without ¹⁸⁴ any qualification, the commentators and digests say that penances are meant for men of all varṇas, for all persons born of unions in the reverse order (pratilomajas) and for even cāṇḍālas. Yāj. III. 262 states that a śūdra sinner though he has no *adhikāra* (for recitation of Vedic *mantras* and *homa*), yet becomes purified by undergoing the observances (except japa and homa) for the periods prescribed. Aṅgiras ¹⁸⁵ provides that penance may be administered to a śūdra devoid of *japa* and *homa*. Even as to japa and homa there were works like the Madanapārijāta p. 749 and Vy. M (p. 112) that relying on a verse of Parāśara VI. 63–64 held that a homa could be performed for women and śūdras in the ordinary fire through a brāhmaṇa¹⁸⁶. The Pr. V. relies on Manu X. 62 and a prose passage of Devala for the proposition that even Cāṇḍālas have to perform penances, if they act contrary to the rules and prohibitions laid down for them Since the non-performance of what is prescribed and doing what is forbidden lead to sin, the person guilty of these or the person who has a desire to destroy his sins is a person entitled to perform prāyaścitta, as also one who repents of his guilt.