The sins
The smritis classify sins
into Mahapatakas, Upapatakas and also Jathibhramshakaras, Samkareekaranas,
Apatreekaranas and Ashudhikaras.
The mahapatakas (great sins)
are five in number.
1. Brahmahatya - killing of
brahmin
The equivalent sins are
lying about one's varna, giving false information causing somebody to be
punished, false accusation against Guru.
2. Surapanam - drinking
alcohol
The equivalent sins are to
talk bad about vedas and also to forget the veda learned, being false witness,
killing of friend, eating what is forbidden and at forbidden time.
3. Steyam - stealing from
brahmin
The equivalent sins are
stealing of treasure, children and women, horse, silver, land, diamond and
jewels.
4.Gurutalpagamanam - illicit
relation with the Guru's wife
The equivalent sins are
illicit physical relation with sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, friend's wife
and low cast women
5. Tatsamsarga - to interact
with one who has performed the above sins,
The upapatakas (sub - sins)
1. Killing of cow.
2.Performing yajna for the
forbidden cast
3. Having illicit relation
with somebodyelse's wife
4. Selling or pleging
oneself
5. Not taking care of guru
and parents
6. Relinquishing vedic study
7. Not performing the agni
rituals
8. Not taking care of the
son
9.Younger brother marrying
before the elder
10.To speak ill about the chastity
of a girl
11. To make living out of
lending money
12.To break vows
13.Selling of lake, garden,
wife and son
14.Non performance of
upanayanam at the proper time
15. Not helping one's
relatives
16. Teaching for salary
17.Llearning by paying fee
18.Selling prohibited
materials
19.Mining
20.Buiding dam etc.
21.Destroying trees and
plants
22.Running brothel
23.Black magic
24. Cutting tree for fuel
25. Cooking only for oneself
26.Eating forbidden food
27.Not performiong agnihotra
28. Theft
29.Not repaying debt
(deva,pitru and manushya)
30.Learnig subjects that are
against veda and smrutis.
31.Acting and dancing to
entertain others.
32.Having relation with a
woman who consumes alcohol
33.Killing
34.Lack of belief in life
after death
Jathibhramshakaras
35. Harassing brahmins
36. Smelling forbidden items
such as alcohol
37.Wickedness
38. Homosexuality
Samkareekaranas
39. Killing of donkey,
horse,camel,deer, elephant, sheep, fish, snake and buffalo
Apatreekaranas
40. Receiving money from
evil people
41.Commerce ( not for
vaisyas )
42. Serving the lowly
43.Dishonesty
Ashudhikaras
44.Killing insects, worms,
birds
45. Eating whatever has been
brought with alcohol
46. Theft of flowers,
fruits, firewood
47.
Cowardice