8. 17 the Brahman that observes all the rules ‘does
not fall from brahmaloka,’ i.e., the
locality of Brahm[=a]. Further, in 10. 4:
“Let (an ascetic) do away with all (sacrificial)
works; but let him not do away with one thing, the
Veda; for from doing away with the Veda (one becomes)
a C[=u]dra.” But, in the same chapter:
“Let (the ascetic) live at the end of a village,
in a temple (’god’s house’), in a
deserted house, or at the root of a tree; there in
his mind studying the knowledge (of the [=a]tm[=a])
... so they cite (verses): ’Sure is the
freedom from re-birth in the case of one that lives
in the wood with passions subdued ... and meditates
on the supreme spirit’ ... Let him not be
confined to any custom ... and in regard to this (freedom
from worldly pursuits) they cite these verses:
’There is no salvation (literally ‘release’)
for a philologist (na cabdac[=a]str[=a]bhiratasya
mokshas), nor for one that delights in catching
(men) in the world, nor for one addicted to food and
dress, nor for one pleased with a fine house.
By means of prodigies, omens, astrology, palmistry,
teaching, and talking let him not seek alms ... he
best knows salvation who (cares for naught)’
... (such are the verses). Let him neither harm
nor do good to anything.... Avoidance of disagreeable
conduct, jealousy, presumption, selfishness, lack of
belief, lack of uprightness, self-praise, blame of
others, harm, greed, distraction, wrath, and envy,
is a rule that applies to all the stadia of life.
The Brahman that is pure, and wears the girdle, and
carries the gourd in his hand, and avoids the food
of low castes fails not of obtaining the world of
Brahm[=a]” (ib. 10. 18 ff.). Yama,
the Manes, and evil spirits (asuras) are referred
to in the following chapter (20, 25); and hell in
the same chapter is declared to be the portion of such
ascetics as will not eat meat when requested to do
so at a feast to the Manes or gods (11. 34),—rather
an interesting verse, for in Manu’s code the
corresponding threat is that, instead of going to hell
‘for as long, i.e., as many years, as
the beast has hairs,’ as here, one shall experience
‘twenty-one rebirths,’ i.e., the
hell-doctrine in terms of sams[=a]ra; while
the same image occurs in Manu in the form ’he
that slaughters beasts unlawfully obtains as many rebirths
as there are hairs on the beast’ (v. 35. 38).
The passive attitude sometimes ascribed to the Manes
is denied; they rejoice over a virtuous descendant
(11. 41); a bad one deprives them of the heaven they
stand in (16. 36). The authorities on morals are
here, as elsewhere, Manu and other seers, the Vedas,
and the Father-god, who with Yama gives directions
to man in regard to lawful food, etc. (14. 30).
The moral side of the code, apart from ritual impurities,
is given, as usual, by a list of good and bad qualities
(above), while formal laws in regard to theft, murder
(especially of a priest), adultery and drunkenness
(20. 44; i. 20), with violation of caste-regulations
by intercourse with outcasts, are ’great crimes.’
Though older than [=A]pastamba, who mentions the P[=u]rva-m[=i]m[=a]ms[=a],
Vasistha, too, knows the Ved[=a]nta (3. 17), and the
M[=i]m[=a]ms[=a] (vikalpin—tarkin,
3. 20, M. XII. 111).