Verse 3.167

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

एतान् विगर्हिताचारानपाङ्क्तेयान् द्विजाधमान् ।
द्विजातिप्रवरो विद्वानुभयत्र विवर्जयेत् ॥ १६७ ॥

etān vigarhitācārānapāṅkteyān dvijādhamān |
dvijātipravaro vidvānubhayatra vivarjayet || 167 ||

The learned Brāhmaṇa should avoid at both (rites) these l owest of twice-born men, who are of reprehensible conduct and who are unworthy of company.—(167)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

These men, whose ‘conduct’—line of action—is ‘reprehensible.’ The ‘blind’ and the rest having their previous misconduct indicated by these disabilities; while the ‘thief,’ etc., have their misconduct actually perceptible in the present.

‘At both’— rites for gods and pitṛs.

‘Should avoid’— should exclude.

‘Unworthy of company’—i.e., they do not deserve company. The ‘ḍhak’ affix denoting presence. Absence from company indicates unworthiness. That is, he does not deserve to eat in the company of other Brāhmaṇas. It is for this reason that such persons have been called ‘defilers of company;’ the meaning being that those who sit at dinner with them become defiled.—(167)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 688) and (on p. 694) explains ‘ubhayatrāpi varjayet’ as ‘a11 these men are to be excluded from both kinds of rites—those in honour of the Gods as well as those in honour of the Pitṛs’;—and in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 482).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Bṛhad- Yama-Smṛti (37, 38).—‘These should be avoided at Śrāddhas and at gifts; these should be avoided with great care—so Yama has declared.’

Viṣṇu (82.30).—‘These have been declared to be low Brāhmaṇas, defilers of the line; the wise man should avoid them with great care at the performance of Śrāddha.’