Verse 3.6

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

महान्त्यपि समृद्धानि गोऽजाविधनधान्यतः ।
स्त्रीसम्बन्धे दशैतानि कुलानि परिवर्जयेत् ॥ ६ ॥

mahāntyapi samṛddhāni go'jāvidhanadhānyataḥ |
strīsambandhe daśaitāni kulāni parivarjayet || 6 ||

In female connection one should avoid these (following) ten families,—even though they be great and rich in the possession of cattle, goat and sheep and grain.—(6).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

This verse is a deprecatory exhortation, supplementary to the Prohibition coming later.

‘Rich’ denotes prosperity.

‘Possession’—property.

‘Though great’—high.

The possessions are farther specified—‘in the possession of catlle, &c., &c.’ The affix ‘tas’ in ‘gojavidhanadhānyataḥ’ has the force of the Instrumental; the construction being—‘gojāvidhanena-dhānyena.’ The term ‘possession’ has been added for the purpose of qualifying ‘cattle’ etc., the sense being ‘cattle and the rest, which constitute possession.’

‘Grain’ stands for property in the shape of kūṭa (?)

‘Female-connection’—i.e., Marriage—the compound being construed as ‘the connection for the purpose of obtaining a female mate.’—(6)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 6-7)

Āśvalāyana Gṛhyasūtra (1.5.1).—‘First of all, one should examine the family—on the father’s as also on the mother’s side, etc., etc.’

Yājñavalkya (1.54).—‘[The girl should be selected] from a Śrotriya family of which ten generations are well known, which is expansive and which is not beset with the defect of an infectious disease.’

Laghu-Śātātapa (36).—‘One shall not marry a girl whose father is not known.’

Viṣṇu (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 587).—‘In connection with the marriage of Brāhmaṇas, what should be heeded is the family.’

Yama (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 588).—‘The following are the fourteen families in which one should not marry: (1) One should avoid such Brāhmaṇa-families as have their Pravaras unknown, and also (2) the family of hereditary (professional) priests; (3) a family of which the members are too tall; (4) that of which the members are too short; (5) that of which the members are of too pronounced a complexion; (6) the family of which several members have a limb wanting; (7) that of which several members have too many limbs; (8) that of which the members suffer from dyspepsia; (9) that of which the members suffer from leucoderma, or (10) leprosy and such other diseases; (11) that of which the members are too lascivious; (12) that of which the members are given up entirely to Tāntric practices; (13) the Family of which the members suffer from epilepsy or (14) from paleness.’

Hārīta (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 589)—‘[Such objectionable families are to be avoided, because] the offspring is of the same nature as the family.’

Hārīta (Aparārka, p. 84).—‘The following families are to be avoided even though they he not outcasts: In which there, has been lucoderma, or leprosy, or dropsy or pthisis or other infectious deseases, in which members have been shortlived or suffering from piles; of which the Gotra and Pravara Ṛṣiṣ are not known, or that, in which the Veda is unknown or one which has the same Ṛṣis. The first six are to ho avoided because the offspring takes after the family; of the unknown Gotra-Pravara is to he avoided because such a family would he unlit for sacrificial performances; and one in which the Veda is unknown is to be avoided, because it would he unfit, for divine rites; one having the same Ṛṣis as the man himself is to he avoided because it is the same family. For these reasons one should examine seven generations on the father’s side and live on the mother’s side and then select as his wife a girl who has not attained puberty, is endowed with superior qualities and has a brother. He shall always select one who is fully qualified as regards family, the asterism under which she has been born, and learning and wisdom.’