History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.317

v7.c95.317

Even in the earliest times open confession of sin was in certain cases regarded as freeing the person from sin. In the Cāturmāsya called Varuṇa-praghāsa, the wife who took part with her husband had to confess expressly or by some indirect ways whether she had at some time a paramour and if she did so she was purified and could take part in the sacred rites thereafter. Vide H. of Dh. Vol. II. pp. 575-576 and 1098 for this. Similarly, according to Āp. Dh. S. I. 9. 24. 15, I. 10. 28. 19 and 1, 10. 29. 1 it was necessary when undergoing expiations for forsaking one's wife or for brāhmaṇa murder to confess one's sin. So also the brahmacārin, if guilty of sexual intercourse, had to proclaim his lapse while begging at seven houses (vide Gautama and Manu quoted below).²⁵⁷⁵