30 - Rules of expiation

Vyāsa said: 

1. Henceforth I shall expound auspicious procedure of expiation1 for the welfare of all Brahmanas (v.l. people) and for dispelling sins.

1. Chs, XXX–XXXIV of KP deal with rules of Prayashchitta or expiation from sin. The concept of sin is beyond the scope of annotations (For the concept of sin vide Hasting's Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics vol. XI article on "sin"). The concept of sin was well-developed in Rugvedic times (vide A. B. Keath-The Religion and Philosoyhy of the Veda and Upanishads, pp. 245-9, 264-8, 310-12 etc.). 

The term Prayashchitta means 'that whereby the chitta (the mind) of the repentant is generally (prayah) free (from the oppressive sense of guilt) by the Parshad assembly of Brahmin Pandits; a smruti quotation in Parashara Madhava II. I. p. 3) 

The idea that a sin can be wiped out by Praya chitta gave rise to a vast literature from the time of ancient Dharma-sutras down to mediaeval writers of digests (Nibandhas). Puranas as a part of Dharma-shastra had dealt with them in details vide AP chs. 169-174, VP. I. chs. 14, 15 and 30.

2. By not doing the enjoined holy rite and by doing what is prohibited, a person incurs sin. The expiatory rite is the way of absolvement from sin. 

3. No Brahmana should ever remain (anywhere) without performing the expiatory rite. He should perform what quiescent, scholarly Brahmanas advise.2

2. VV. 3-8 state who should be regarded as authority in religious. matter (as to what atonement be made etc.)

4. What a quiescent Brahmana, who is the most excellent among the knowers of the meanings of the Vedas, who loves dharma (virtue) and who maintains (sacrificial) fires, does, shall be the greatest virtue even if it be that he alone performs it. 

5. If there are three Brahmanas who though they do not maintain sacrificial fire are but past-masters of Vedic interpretation and love Dharma, what they say should be regarded as means of Dharma.

6-7. If there is a group of seven Brahmanas who are experts in many scriptures on Dharma-shastra and are proficient in logical reasoning of pros and cons and endowed with Vedic studies, these seven are glorified as authority on Dharma-Shastra. 

8. If there be twenty-one Brahmanas who know the truth about the knowledge of Mimamsa and are experts in Vedanta, can lay down the expiatory rite. 

9. He who associates with the fallen sinners for one year by sharing their vehicles, beds and seats, with full knowledge thereof, shall also become fallen1

1. VV. 9-11 state the conditions under which even an innocent man is treated as 'falllen'.

10. A Brahmana who officiates as a priest contracts a marriage with the fallen out-caste and teaches them Veda or dines with them, instantly becomes fallen. 

11. The Brahmana who teaches them out of delusion or not knowing their sins) or learns along with them shall become fallen in the course of a year. 

12. The slayer of a Brāhmaṇa2 should construct a hut in the forest and live therein for twelve years. For self-purification, he should beg alms with the skull of the dead as a symbol on the flag.

2. Slaying of a Brahmana was regarded as a serious sin (maha-papa). VV. 12-26 describe different atonements for this great sin.

13. He should avoid the abodes of the Brahmanas and the shrines of deities. He should remember that Brahmana constantly and censure himself. 

14. He should quietly and slowly enter seven houses (for begging) the worthiness of which was not (previously) considered and which are free from smoke and fire extinguished) and inmates whereof have taken their meals. 

15. He should beg for alms only once. He should proclaim his sin to all men. Or he should maintain himself with fruits and roots obtained from the forest and subsist on them. 

16. He should hold the skull and the Khatvanga (a staff with a skull at the top) in his hands. He should observe celibacy. When the twelfth year is completed in this manner, he shall become free from the sin of Brahmana-slaughter.

17. When the sin has been committed unintentionally, this is the auspicious expiation. It should be remembered that if the sin is done intentionally, the purification is only after death, and not by any other means. 

18. He should observe Anashana (fast unto death) or Bhrugupatana (fall off from a precipice) or he shall enter the burning fire or water. 

19. In order to wipe off the sin of Brahmana-slaughter, he should discard his life for the sake of a Brahmana or a cow or for the sake of the dead. 

20. The sin of Brahmana-slaughter is dispelled by curing a Brahmana of his chronic illness or by giving food to a very learned person. 

21. Or a Brahmana is absolved of the sin of Brahmana slaughter by taking the concluding ablutions of a horse sacrifice or by giving all his possessions to a Brahmana who has mastered the Vedas. 

22. A Brahmana should observe fast for three nights and then take three baths in the world-famous confluence of the river Sarasvati with the Aruna and he shall be purified. 

23. By going to the holy place Rameshvara, and by taking bath in the great ocean or by seeing Rudra, he shall be rid of the sin if he observes celibacy. 

24. There is the holy centre of lord Shulin (Shiva) named Kapālamochana. By taking bath and propitiating the Pitrus and Devas, one dispels the sin of Brahmana-slaughter. 

25. It was there that the skull of Parameshthin Brahma was formerly deposited by Bhairava, the overlord of Devas, of unmeasured splendour. 

26. By worshiping Mahadeva there, in the form of Bhairava, after the bath and after performing the Tarpana rites to the Pitrus one is freed from the sin of Brahmana slaughter.