Verse 2.111

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

अधर्मेण च यः प्राह यश्चाधर्मेण पृच्छति ।
तयोरन्यतरः प्रैति विद्वेषं वाऽधिगच्छति ॥ १११ ॥

adharmeṇa ca yaḥ prāha yaścādharmeṇa pṛcchati |
tayoranyataraḥ praiti vidveṣaṃ vā'dhigacchati || 111 ||

He who instructs in an unlawful manner, and he who asks in an unlawful manner,—of those two one or the other either dies (untimely), or incurs the ill-will (of the people).—(111)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The present text describes the evil effects of transgressing the above prohibition.

He who instructs a pupil—‘you should read this’—in an unlawful manner, either when he is not asked, or when he is asked in an unlawful manner; and be also who asks in an unlawful manner;—both of these die, before time. If only one of them happens to be the transgressor, then he alone dies. When asked in an unlawful manner, if the wise man docs not explain, then the questioner dies; but if he does explain, then both of them die. This indication of the evil effects proceeding from improper questioning clearly implies that for the questioner also there is a proper manner of putting questions.

‘Or incurs the ill-will’—enmity—of the people.—(111)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Vidveṣam vādhigacchati’—‘Incurs the ill-will of the people’ (Medhātithi and Govindarāja);—‘loses the reward’ (Rāghavānanda);—‘incurs the other party’s enmity’ (Kullūka).

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 516), as laying down the duties of the Teacher.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu-Smṛti (29.7)—(reproduces the words of Manu). Do., (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 516).—‘One should not teach, or sacrifice for, a person who has not been duly tested.’