History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.396

v5.c71.s1.396

The Sāmavidhāna Br (I 7.8) prescribes that on killing any animal (except a cow or bull) the guilty person should fast for one night and recite the sāmaveda verse 'Agnis-tigmena' (I. 1 3 2) Āp. Dh S (I 9.25.14) provides for killing a crow, a chameleon, a peacock, a chakravāka, *haṁsa*, *bhāsa*, a frog, ichneumon, musk-rat, a dog the same penance as for killing a śūdra. Gaut 22 19-22, 24-25, Manu XI. 133-137, Yāj III. 269-274, Viṣṇu Dh. S 50.25-32, Parāśara VI. 1-15 prescribe several penances for killing an elephant, a horse, a tiger, a monkey, a cat, a serpent and numerous other animals, which are passed over here Some smṛtis such as Saṁvarta 10 and Paithīnasi make a difference between *grāmya* and *āraṇya* (forest) animals, in each class seven being specified by Paithīnasi²⁵¹ The great concern of the sages for anything possessed of the principle of life or growth went so far as to prescribe the penance of reciting one hundred *ṛk* verses if a man cut off big trees (like mango or jack-fruit tree) or shrubs and creepers, except for purposes of sacrifices or agriculture ²⁵² (Manu XI. 142, Yāj III. 276, Vas 19. 11-12) These provisions tended against wanton destruction of trees, shrubs and forests that are so beneficent to humanity and lend a charm to the landscape.