History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.393

v5.c71.s1.393

Yāj. III. 284, ²⁴⁹ Saṁvarta 137, Aginipurāṇa 169.14 provide that if a cow or bull dies while being treated with medicine or while an attempt is being made to help the cow in delivery, or being branded (as a treatment) there is no sin. This applies as an exception in all cases of injury or death of brāhmaṇas, cows or other animals. Parāśara (IX. 4 ff) and Aṅgiras (q by Pr. T. pp 526-527) prescribe 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of the prāyaścitta for killing out-right a cow, if the death is due to putting an obstacle in the cow's or bull's free movement or to tying it up or to yoking it with thongs. Before undergoing a penance for *govadha*, the sinner had to make good the price of the animal to the owner, according to the Brahmapurāṇa and Parāśara.²⁵⁰