History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.305

v5.c71.s1.305

It is not necessary here to set out the details of the constitution of the *parisad*, of the qualifications of the śistas who were to be the members of the *parisad* and their privileges and duties These points have already been discussed at length in H of Dh. vol. II, pp. 966-974. A few matters not stated there are mentioned here Caste exclusiveness and pride had gone so far that Parāśara (VIII. 25) and the Caturvimśatīmata quoted by Par M. state that a *dvija* though he may be of bad character is to be honoured and not a śūdra who may have controlled his senses, that the advice of a śūdra even though learned and devoted to the knowledge of the śāstras should not be accepted like sacrificial food when licked by a dog²⁰³. Instead of the word '*parisad*' the word *parsad* (which is an irregular abbreviation) is employed in several smṛti passages203a. Parāśara (VI. 55-57) provides that the assembly should take compassion on the weak, on boys and old men and should reduce the penance, but not otherwise and that if learned men through affection, greed, fear or ignorance reduce the penance that should be prescribed they themselves incur the sin. Devala says the same and adds²⁰⁴ that the reduction in the penance should not be directed by one man alone or by a person ignorant of Dharmaśāstra and that it is only a number of brāhmaṇas who are proficient in Dharmaśāstra that are entitled to reduce the penance through compassion for the sinner. The decision of the assembly should be unanimous²⁰⁵ as far as possible