History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.447

v5.c71.s1.447

There are certain virtues to be cultivated as being common to all prāyaścittas whether secretly or openly undergone They are called *yamas* and *niyamas* and have been set out above (p 121) from Yāj III. 312-313 Atri (verses 48-49) sets them out somewhat differently. Manu IV. 204 (= Atri verse 47) refers to *yamas* and *niyamas* which Medhātithi explains as follows. viz *yamas* are in the nature of prohibitions (e. g. a brāhmaṇa should not be killed), while *niyamas* consist of what is to be done (such as one should always recite the Veda, as in Manu IV. 147).