WYAWAS THA-DARPANA. 998 After this, it is unnecessary to criticise the remarks of Sir Thomas Strange. The only one to be taken notice of is, that he says “the Datta-homa with the holy texts of the Veda can only be performed by the Bráinanas: the other classes, particularly the Slidras, upon this, like other occasions, perform an imitation of it from the Purénas.' But although no other class than that of Bráinanas are allowed personally to repeat the holy words from the Veda, and perform the rites thereby to be performed, yet all those classes can, and do actually, employ Bráānanas to officiate for them in the performance of such rites. Moreover, according to the Dharma-shāstra, as current in this country, it being necessary for the inferior classee also to perform the homa like the Bráānanas, even the Shiidras are, for completion of the religious ceremonies of great 'consequence, directed to have the homa performed by Brähnanas, as is evident from the following passage of the Dattaka-nirnaya “Washishtha-‘Nor let a woman give or accept a son, unless with the assent of her lord. A person being about to adopt a son, should receive him having convened (his) kinsmen, announced (his) intention) to the king, and having offered a burnt offering with recitation of prayers (denominated) Wyārhiti in the middle of his dwelling.’— Here it being intimated that a woman may give or accept (a son,) and that homa should be performed in the adoption of a son, let it be known that there is no impropriety in her performing the homa through Brähnanas, just as (she does) when completing a voluntary religious ceremony stratra,) and so forth;-a Shitdra also should act in like manner.” By the assertion ‘a Shitdra also should act in like manner,' the Kshatriyas and Voishyas are a fortiori entitled to perform the homa through Brühmanas, The author of the Dattaka-mirnaya, in accordance with the following text of Devala, is of opinion that there is no necessity for homa and so forth in the adoption for a daughter's son or a brother's son: “IIona, &c. are not ordained in the (adoption of a) daughter's gon, and brother's son: the same being valid by the verbal gift alone: this is said by the glorious Yama.” A text of Devala cited in the Dwolpáyana Saraswati-vilāsa, The following rites and ceremonies are also to be performed by the adopter besides those already mentioned:— 560. If, however, the initiatory rites, which should have taken place previously, have not been performed, by the natural father, they are, in that case, to be completed, by the adopter even, on account of the indispensable necessity of removing the taint of the seed and womb, and for the sake of preserving the order, prescribed for the performance of the rites in question.D. Ch. Sect. II. $22. 561. If a boy whose tonsure has been already performed be received in adoption, his filiation must be completed by the performance of the Upanayasa, &c, preceded the puttrelli (sacrifice for male issue,) in case of his belonging to one of the three superior classes, and by the performance of the ceremony of marriage, in case of his being a Siúdra, 562. Should a boy who is above five years of age, and whose tonsure has not as yet been performed, be received in adoption, his filiation must be completed, as the case may be, by the performance of toasure, &c. preceded by pstrealii, Wyavasthá.
