manusmriti

LAWS OF MANU
223. Burnt oblations, accompanied by (the recitation of) the Mahavyahritis, must
daily be made (by the penitent) himself, and he must abstain from injuring (sentient
creatures), speak the truth, and keep himself free from anger and from dishonesty.
224. Let him bathe three times each day and thrice each night, dressed in his
clothes; let him on no account talk to women, Sudras, and outcasts.
225. Let him pass the time standing (during the day) and sitting (during the
night), or if he is unable (to do that) let him lie on the (bare) ground; let him be chaste
and observe the vows (of a student) and worship his Gurus, the gods, and
Brahmanas.
226. Let him constantly mutter the Savitri and (other) purificatory texts according
to his ability; (let him) carefully (act thus) on (the occasion of) all (other) vows
(performed) by way of penance.
227. By these expiations twice-born men must be purified whose sins are known,
but let him purify those whose sins are not known by (the recitation of) sacred texts
and by (the performance of) burnt oblations.
228. By confession, by repentance, by austerity, and by reciting (the Veda) a
sinner is freed from guilt, and in case no other course is possible, by liberality.
229. In proportion as a man who has done wrong, himself confesses it, even so
far he is freed from guilt, as a snake from its slough.
230. In proportion as his heart loathes his evil deed, even so far is his body freed
from that guilt.
231. He who has committed a sin and has repented, is freed from that sin, but he
is purified only by (the resolution of) ceasing (to sin and thinking) ‘I will do so no
more.’
232. Having thus considered in his mind what results will arise from his deeds
after death, let him always be good in thoughts, speech, and actions.
233. He who, having either unintentionally or intentionally committed a
reprehensible deed, desires to be freed from (the guilt on it, must not commit it a
second time.
234. If his mind be uneasy with respect to any act, let him repeat the austerities
(prescribed as a penance) for it until they fully satisfy (his conscience).
235. All the bliss of gods and men is declared by the sages to whom the Veda
was revealed, to have austerity for its root, austerity for its middle, and austerity for its
end.
236. (The pursuit of sacred) knowledge is the austerity of a Brahmana, protecting
(the people) is the austerity of a Kshatriya, (the pursuit of) his daily business is the
austerity of a Vaisya, and service the austerity of a Sudra.
237. The sages who control themselves and subsist on fruit, roots, and air,
survey the three worlds together with their moving and immovable (creatures) through
their austerities alone.
238. Medicines, good health, learning, and the various divine stations are
attained by austerities alone; for austerity is the means of gaining them.
239. Whatever is hard to be traversed, whatever is hard to be attained, whatever
is hard to be reached, whatever is hard to be performed, all (this) may be
accomplished by austerities; for austerity (possesses a power) which it is difficult to
surpass.
240. Both those who have committed mortal sin (Mahapataka) and all other
offenders are severally freed from their guilt by means of well-performed austerities.
241. Insects, snakes, moths, bees, birds and beings, bereft of motion, reach
heaven by the power of austerities.
242. Whatever sin men commit by thoughts, words, or deeds, that they speedily
burn away by penance, if they keep penance as their only riches.
243. The gods accept the offerings of that Brahmana alone who has purified
himself by austerities, and grant to him all he desires.
270