The institutes of Vishnu (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880)

I 12

VISILVU.

XXVI, 2.

he shall perform his religious duties together with
the eldest (or first-married) wife.
2. (If he has several) wives of divers castes (he
shall perform them) even with the youngest wife if
she is of the same caste as himself.
3. On failure of a wife of his own caste (he shall
perform them) with one belonging to the caste next
below his own; so also in cases of distress (i. e.
when the wife who is equal in caste to him hap-
pens to be absent, or when she has met with a
calamity);
4. But no twice-born man ever with a Sudra
wife.
5. A union of a twice-born man with a Audra
wife can never produce religious merit; it is from
carnal desire only that he marries her, being blinded
by lust.
6. Men of the three first castes, who through
folly marry a woman of the lowest caste, quickly
degrade their families and progeny to the state of
■Sudras.
7. If his oblations to the gods and manes and
(his hospitable attentions) to guests are offered
principally through her hands, the gods and manes
(and the guests) will not eat such offerings, and he
will not go to heaven.
XXVII.
1. The Nishekakarman (ceremony of irnpregna-
IV, 1, XLIX. — 5-7. M. Ill, 12, 14, 15, 18; Y. I, 56; Weber,
Ind. Stud. X, 74. — 7. Colebrooke, Dig. IV, 1, LIL
XXVII. 1-14. Aw. I, 4-18; Gobh. II, 1-9 ; Par. I, 4-II, 1;
*Sahkh. I, 12-28 ; M. II, 29-35, 66, 67; Y. I, 11-13 ; Gaut. VIII,
14. —-15-24, 26, 27. Weber, Ind. Stud. X, 21; M. II, 38-47; Y. I,