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

LIX, 26.

DUTIES OF A HOUSEHOLDER.

193

16. If there is no ascetic (or other person worthy
to receive alms), he must give a mouthful to cows ;
17. Or he must cast it into fire.
18. If there is food in the house, he must not
reject a mendicant, (who arrives) after he has taken
his meal himself.
19. A householder has five places where animals
are liable to be destroyed : his wooden mortar, his
slab to grind wheat or condiments upon, his fire-
place, his water-pot, and his broom.
20. For the sake of expiating offences committed
(by ignorantly destroying life) in those places, he
must perform the (five) sacrifices addressed to the
Veda, to the gods, to all created beings (or ‘to the
goblins ’), to the manes, and to men.
21. Privately reciting (and teaching) the Veda is
the sacrifice addressed to the Veda.
22. The regular burnt-oblation (Vaisvadeva) is the
sacrifice addressed to the gods.
23. The Pitrztarpana (refreshing the manes with
food and water) is the sacrifice addressed to the
manes.
24. The Bali-offering is the sacrifice addressed to
all creatures (or ‘ to the goblins ’).
25. The sacrifice addressed to men consists in
honouring a guest.
26. He who does not give their share to these
five, the gods, his guests, (his wife and children and
others,) whom he is bound to maintain, his manes,
and himself, is not alive, though he breathes.

18. ‘The expression, “if there is food in the house,” indi-
cates that he is not bound to cook a fresh meal for his guest.’
(Nand.)
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