6

91. One principal duty the supreme Ruler assigns CHAP.

to a Súdra; namely, to serve the before-mentioned

' classes, without depreciating their worth.

92. Man is declared purer above the navel; but

'the self-creating Power declared the purest part of
him to be his mouth.

93. Since the Brahmen sprang from the most ex-

'cellent part, since he was the first born, and since
'he possesses the Veda, he is by right the chief of
'this whole creation.

94. Him, the Being, who exists of himself, pro-
duced in the beginning from his own mouth, that,
having performed holy rites, he might present cla-
rified butter to the Gods, and cakes of rice to the
progenitors of mankind, for the preservation of this
' world:

95. What created being then can surpass Him,

with whose mouth the Gods of the firmament con-
tinually feast on clarified butter, and the manes of
ancestors, on hallowed cakes?

96. Of created things, the most excellent are

those which are animated; of the animated, those
'which subsist by intelligence; of the intelligent,
'mankind; and of men, the sacerdotal class ;

97. Of priests, those eminent in learning; of the

'learned, those who know their duty; of those who

'know it, such as perform it virtuously; and of the

'virtuous,

I.

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virtuous, those who seek beatitude from a perfect

acquaintance with scriptural doctrine.

98. The very birth of Bráhmens is a constant incar-
nation of DHERMA, God of Justice; for the Brahmen

is born to promote justice, and to procure ultimate

happiness.

99. When a Bráhmen springs to light, he is born

above the world, the chief of all creatures, assigned
to guard the treasury of duties, religious and civil.

100. Whatever exists in the universe, is all in

' effect, though not in form, the wealth of the Bráh-
( men; since the Brahmen is entitled to it all by his
'primogeniture and eminence of birth:

101. The Brahmen eats but his own food; wears

'but his own apparel: and bestows but his own in
alms through the benevolence of the Bráhmen, in-
deed, other mortals enjoy life.

6

102. To declare the sacerdotal duties, and those

of the other classes in due order, the sage MENU,
6 sprung from the self-existing, promulged this code
6 of laws:

103. A code which must be studied with extreme
care by every learned Bráhmen, and fully explained

to his disciples, but must be taught by no other
man of an inferior class.

104. The Brahmen who studies this book, having

performed

performed sacred rites, is perpetually free from of- CHAP.

'fence in thought, in word, and in deed;

105. He confers purity on his living family, on

'his ancestors, and on his descendants, as far as the
'seventh person; and He alone deserves to possess
this whole earth.

106. This most excellent code produces every thing

auspicious; this code increases understanding; this

' code procures fame and long life; this code leads.

to supreme bliss.

107. In this book appears the system of law in

' its full extent, with the good and bad properties
of human actions, and the immemorial customs of
the four classes.

108. Immemorial custom is transcendent law, ap-

proved in the sacred scripture, and in the codes
' of divine legislators: let every man, therefore, of
'the three principal classes, who has a due reverence
for the supreme spirit which dwells in him, diligently
' and constantly observe immemorial custom :

109. A man of the priestly, military, or commer-

cial class, who deviates from immemorial usage,
tastes not the fruit of the Veda; but, by an exact
'observance of it, he gathers that fruit in perfection.

110. Thus have holy sages, well knowing that law

is grounded on immemorial custom, embraced, as

'the root of all piety, good usages long established.

111. THE

6

D

I.

CHAP. 111. THE creation of this universe, the forms of 'institution and education, with the observances and

I.

behaviour of a student in theology; the best rules 'for the ceremony on his return from the mansion of his preceptor;

112. The law of marriage in general, and of nuptials in different forms; the regulations for the great sacraments, and the manner, primevally settled, of performing obsequies;

113. The modes of gaining subsistence, and the 'rules to be observed by the master of a family; the 'allowance and prohibition of diet, with the purifica'tion of men and utensils;

114. Laws concerning women, the devotion of her

mits, and of anchorets wholly intent on final beati

tude, the whole duty of a king, and the judicial ' decision of controversies,

115. With the law of evidence and examination; laws concerning husband and wife, canons of inherithe prohibition of gaming, and the punish'ments of criminals;

6 tance;

116. Rules ordained for the mercantile and servile ' classes, with the origin of those that are mixed; the 'duties and rights of all the classes in time of distress 'for subsistence; and the penances for expiating sins;

117. The several transmigrations in this universe, 'caused by offences of three kinds, with the ultimate

• bliss

bliss attending good actions, on the full trial of vice CHAP. ⚫ and virtue ;

118. All these titles of law, promulgated by MENU, and occasionally the customs of different countries, 'different tribes, and different families, with rules concerning hereticks and companies of traders, are discussed in this code.

6

119. Even as MENU, at my request, formerly re'vealed this divine Sástra, hear it now from me without any diminution or addition.

II