The minor law books: The minor law books (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889)

220

NARADA.

XVIII, 39.

39. A Brahman engaged in travelling, who is
tired and has nothing to eat, commits no wrong by
taking himself two canes of sugar or two esculent
roots.
40. (No gift must be accepted) from one accused
of a crime, an outcast, an enemy, an atheist, one in
distress, without necessity, or after inflicting pain on
the giver.
41. (Gifts shall be accepted) from industrious
people on account of their wealth, and from generous
people because it is proper to accept gifts from such;
to accept gifts from kings is laudable ; (they may
be accepted) from all people excepting Brahmans.
42. Between a Brahman and a king, who are both
devoted to their duty, there is no difference of any
sort, when they protect mankind (acting) in accord-
ance with the sacred law.
43. If a ruler, though severe, is mindful of his
duty, correct in his conduct, and (quick to) punish
the wicked, in order to protect (the virtuous), his
wealth is declared to be pure.
44. When a man accepts a gift from a covetous
king, who transgresses the precepts of the sacred
books, he shall have to pass through the well-known
twenty-one hells in succession.
45. As pure and impure waters become alike on
their junction in the ocean, even so (all) property
acquired by a king (becomes pure in his hands).

39. Gautama XII, 49, 50 ; Manu VIII, 341. Or ‘five esculent
roots,’ according to the Nepalese MS.
40. Manu II, 185.
44. For a list of the twenty-one hells, see Manu IV, 88-90 ;
Vish/zu XLIII, 1-22. The Nepalese MS. omits this paragraph.
45. A different opinion has been enounced above, XV, 14.