Verse 2.239

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

विषादप्यमृतं ग्राह्यं बालादपि सुभाषितम् ।
अमित्रादपि सद्वृत्तममेध्यादपि काञ्चनम् ॥ २३९ ॥

viṣādapyamṛtaṃ grāhyaṃ bālādapi subhāṣitam |
amitrādapi sadvṛttamamedhyādapi kāñcanam || 239 ||

Nectar mat be taken even from poison, good advice even prom a child; good conduct (may be learnt) even from a foe; and gold (mat be taken) even from an impure source.—(239)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The preceding verse as well as these two verses (239 and 240) are supplementary to the injunction contained in verse 241.

The present verse cites an ordinary saying in support of the injunction. Ordinary people say that ‘good may be taken even out of evil.’ If there is nectar in poison, that should be taken in the same manner as the swan takes the milk out of water. This is said in reference to certain medicinal preparations which contain poisonous ingredients.

Even if a child should happen to say something good,—if be pronounces, for instance, some auspicious words at the time of one’s starting for a journey,—it should be accepted.

‘Even from a foe’—one should learn —‘good conduct,’—i.e., of cultured behaviour; and it would not be right to shun such behaviour simply because it happens to be followed by one’s enemy.

The next instance is still more well known—‘gold may be taken even from an impure source.’

The sense of all this is tbat just as the good things herein enumerated are accepted even from evil sources, so may learning be acquired even from a non-Brāhmaṇa.—(239)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 514) along with the preceding verse;—and in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 144).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (12.165.30-31).—(Same as Manu.)