Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
by Ganganatha Jha | 1920 | 1,381,940 words | ISBN-10: 8120811550 | ISBN-13: 9788120811553
This is the English translation of the Manusmriti, which is a collection of Sanskrit verses dealing with ‘Dharma’, a collective name for human purpose, their duties and the law. Various topics will be dealt with, but this volume of the series includes 12 discourses (adhyaya). The commentary on this text by Medhatithi elaborately explains various t...
Verse 1.87 [Distribution of Functions among the several castes, part 1: of the Brāhmaṇa]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:
सर्वस्यास्य तु सर्गस्य गुप्त्यर्थं स महाद्युतिः ।
मुखबाहूरुपज्जानां पृथक्कर्माण्यकल्पयत् ॥ ८७ ॥sarvasyāsya tu sargasya guptyarthaṃ sa mahādyutiḥ |
mukhabāhūrupajjānāṃ pṛthakkarmāṇyakalpayat || 87 ||With a view to the protection of this entire creation, the Resplendent One ordained the distinct functions of those who sprang from the mouth, the arms, the thighs and the feet—(86).
Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
The divisions of time have been described. The qualifications of the Brāhmaṇa and the other people are now described; and the present verse serves as an introduction to that subject.
‘Of this entire creation,’—i.e., of all beings,—‘with a view to the protection’—for the purpose of their safety;—the Resplendent One, Prajāpati,—‘ordained,’—distributed—‘the functions,’—i.e., actions, leading to perceptible as well as imperceptible results,—of the Brāhmaṇa and other castes, that sprang from his mouth and other limbs. (87).