उपपूर्वमपि तु, एके भावमशनवत्, तदुक्तम् ॥ ४२ ॥
upapūrvamapi tu, eke bhāvamaśanavat, taduktam || 42 ||
upapūrvam—Prefixed with ‘Upa’, i.e. an Upapataka or a minor sin; api tu—but; eke—some; bhāvam—the existence; aśanavat—as in the case of eating; tat—this; uktam—is explained in Purva Mimamsa.
42. But some (consider this transgression on the part of the Naishthika) a minor sin (and therefore claim) the existence (of expiation for it), as in the case of eating (prohibited food by ordinary Brahmacharins). This is explained in Purva Mimamsa.
Some, however, think that such lapses on the part of a Naishthika, other than disloyalty to teacher’s wife etc., are minor sins and not major ones, and so can be expiated by proper ceremonies, even as ordinary Brahmacharins who take prohibited food are again purified by expiatory ceremonies. The reference to the text denying any such ceremony in his case is meant only to bring home to the Naishthika Brahmachari the grave responsibility on his part so that he may struggle with all his soul. Similarly in the case of the recluse and the Sannyasin. As a matter of fact, the Smriti does prescribe the purificatory ceremony for both the recluse and the Sannyasin. “The recluse when he has broken his vows undergoes the Krichchhra penance for twelve nights and then develops a place which is full of trees and grass.” The Sannyasin also undergoes the purificatory ceremony, with certain modifications.