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 men of all castes who perform the prescribed penances must not be branded on the forehead by the king but shall be made to pay the highest amercement. For such offenses the middlemost amercement shall be inflicted on a Brāhmana, or he may be banished from the realm, leaving to him his money and chattels (to Brāhmana himself): but (men of) other (varnas) who have unintentionally committed such crimes ought to be deprived of their whole property; if they committed them intentionally they shall be banished" (ix, 240-242).

"It also says: "But a Kshatriya, a Vaishya, and a Shūdra unable to pay a fine shall discharge the debt by labor; a Brāhmana shall pay it in instalments (ix, 229).

Dharma writers are not always lenient toward the higher varnas. In some offenses the higher the varna the greater was the punishment. Our writer says: "In the case of theft the guilt of a Shūdra shall be eightfold, that of a Vaishya sixteenfold, that of a Kshatriya thirty-twofold, that of a Brāhmana sixty-fourfold, or quite a hundredfold, or (even) twice sixty-fourfold, depending on the nature of the offense."

A correct idea of our work cannot be given, the relations of the castes cannot be made clear, the pretensions of the Brāhmanas cannot be properly represented, unless some of their boastful language is quoted.

"Brāhmana is born to fulfil dharma. Whatever exists in the world is the property of the Brāhmana. On account of the excellence of his origin he is entitled to all. The Brāhmana eats but his own food, wears but