worst sins

महानारायणोपनिषत्  १—–६८
mahānārāyaṇopaniá¹£at  1—–68
 
the Lord of Waters and the destroyer of Sins Varuna, will expiate one who worships the gods of water, of even the five mahaapatakas or most heinous sins , (1) working contrary to the dictates of the scriptures, (2)  being disloyal to ones own promises out of cowardice (3) causing destruction to the human foetus in the womb (4) indulging in robbery or coveting the wealth of others and (5) causing disrepect to the preceptor by entering his bed .

This mantra has twin  purpose. First, to extoll the greatness of  water… it is said to  release one from the panchamahapaatakas themeselves.  It should not be taken as  a licence  to commit sins.  One should not think that he can gleefully commit all the sins and wash off his hand.  Secondly the moral standards of our ancestors.  Absolute faithfulness to the Vedas, one can understand.  Our ancestors strongly believed that if solemn promises made by the constituents of the society are not kept it would lead to imbalance even in the working of natural forces.  When Yudistira lied even once partially, it is said that his chariot which always moved floating about one foot above the ground suddenly dropped down to earth with a thud.  Now our society is very permissive about termination of pregnancies but our ancestors could not ondone it. They belived more in continence. In fact sexual copulation was ordained to be limited only for the furtherace of the race. The fate of Aswathaam who  directed the Brahmasiraastram on the womb of Uttara to annihilate the foetus of abhimanyus son growing there is well known.   And entering the Guru,s bed has more serious meaning to it…. it is not mere sleep.
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