History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.319.3

v5.c71.s1.319.3

243) states that this observance for twelve years applies only to one who was himself directly the murderer of a brāhmaṇa and that the *anugrāhaka* has to undergo only 9 years’ *vrata*, the *prayojaka* only six years, the *anumantā* only 4½ years and the *nimittin* only three years. It is further provided by the Mit. (on Yāj. III. 243) following a verse ascribed to Manu (not found in the printed text) and Devala²¹³ that if a man commits several murders of brāhmaṇas one after another, and performs penance at one time for them, for two murders he has to undergo the penance for 24 years and for three murders 36 years and when he commits the 4th murder there is no penance (but only death is the penance). The Pr. T. (p. 468) on the other hand,²¹⁴ following the Bhaviṣya-purāṇa holds that one performance of the 12 years’ penance is enough penance for the murder of several brāhmaṇas, on the analogy of the *Kṣāmavatī iṣṭi* (Jai. VI. 4. 17–20) which is performed when both the puroḍāśas and the house are totally burnt up by accident before the oblations are offered. The Pr. Prakāśa (folio 19 a) also says the same and adds that Devala's verse is to be interpreted as laying down that repetition of the same sinful act is more blamable. If the murderer of a brāhmaṇa was a kṣatriya or a vaiśya or a śūdra he had to perform the penance above described respectively for 24, 36 or 48 years. (Smṛtyarthasāra p. 105).