History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.403.1

v5.c72.403.1

Yāj. (III. 28-29) prescribes that there is sadyaḥśauca (purification after a bath) in case of birth or death (of a sapiṇḍa) for priests chosen for a sacrifice (after they are offered Madhuparka), for those who have undergone dīkṣā for a vedic sacrifice (like *Somayāga*) and those who are engaged in performing the constituent parts of a Vedic sacrifice, those who continuously distribute food at a charity house, those who are engaged in prāyaścittas like cāndrāyaṇa or the vows of *snātakas*, for brahmacārins (when performing the duties of their *āśrama*), for persons who everyday make gifts of a cow, gold etc (at the time of making the gift), for those who have realized Brahman (ascetics); there is sadyaḥśauca at gifts (when once begun), at marriage, in a Vedic sacrifice, in battle (for those who are about to be engaged in it), when there is commotion in a country (through invasion), and in a severe calamity (like famine when one can accept food from any body). Gaut. (14. 43-44) says that there is sadyaḥśauca in the case of kings as otherwise there will be obstacles in their duties and also in the case of brāhmaṇas in order to prevent the cessation of their duties of teaching. Śaṅkhalikhita say the same ‘Rājā dharmāyatanam sarveṣāṁ tasmādanavaruddhaḥ pretaprasavadoṣaiḥ’ (Śuddhikalpataru p. 62). It is stated in Manu V.