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...

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

दाराधिगमनं चैव विवाहानां च लक्षणम् ।
महायज्ञविधानं च श्राद्धकल्पं च शाश्वतम् ॥ ११२ ॥

dārādhigamanaṃ caiva vivāhānāṃ ca lakṣaṇam |
mahāyajñavidhānaṃ ca śrāddhakalpaṃ ca śāśvatam || 112 ||

The taking of wife,—the definition of the several forms of Marriage,—the method of the Great Sacrifices,—the eternal regulations relating to the offering to Pitṛs. — (112)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Taking of wife,’—the accepting of a wife in marriage;—‘the definition’—i.e., the means of distinguishing the exact character—‘of marriages,’—such as the ‘Brahma’ and the rest, which form the means by which the wife is taken.—‘The great sacrifices’—the five offerings of the ‘Vaiśvadeva’ and the rest.—‘The regulations,’ rules, method, relating to śrāddhas, ‘offering to the Pitṛs.’

The terms ‘para,’ ‘excellent’ (in verse 111), and ‘eternal’ (in 112) only serve to fill in the metre.

All this forms the subject-matter of discourse III.—(112)

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: