Verse 4.70

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

न मृत्लोष्ठं च मृद्नीयान्न छिन्द्यात् करजैस्तृणम् ।
न कर्म निष्फलं कुर्यान्नायत्यामसुखोदयम् ॥ ७० ॥

na mṛtloṣṭhaṃ ca mṛdnīyānna chindyāt karajaistṛṇam |
na karma niṣphalaṃ kuryānnāyatyāmasukhodayam || 70 ||

He shall not crush clods of earth; nor shall he cut grass with hi s nails. He shall not do an aimless act, nor one that is likely to lead to disagreeable results.—(70)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Crushing’ means breaking into pieces—of clods of earth; some people hold that this refers also to such clods of earth as are mixed with lime or other mortar. The ‘crushing’ of the earth-clod, consists either in raising it and then throwing it down, or by pressing it with the hands.

The crushing that is forbidden here is one that is done aimlessly; nor when it is done for the purpose of being used in cleaning the hands, etc.,—the term ‘aimless’ of the next line being construed with this also. Though, as such, the crushing would be included under the ‘aimless act,’ yet it has been mentioned separately, with a view to the different expiatory rite that has been prescribed in connection with it.

‘Karaja’ are nails.

‘No aimless act.’—Objection—“The aimless act has been already prohibited under ‘purposeless exertion’ (63).”

Some people offer the following explanation:—‘Exertion’ denotes physical activity; while what is forbidden here is activity in general (in all its forms); which means that the building of airy castles is to be avoided.

‘Āyati’ denotes future time. That act from which there follows, in the future, some disagreeable, result; e.g., eating to indigestion, spending one’s wealth without any consideration for the maintenance of one’s family and dependants. All this he shall not do.—(70)

In support of the. above, we have the following commendatory description—

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 183), which explains ‘āyati’ as ‘pariṇāma’, ‘result’—‘Karma’ as Saṅkalpa ‘volition’, ‘determination’; and this is ‘fruitless,’ ‘niṣphala’, when it turns out to be false, i.e., when the determination is not carried into practice; as regards the crushing of clods etc., what is to be avoided is the habit of doing it;—and in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 72).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 4.70-71)

Gautama (9.51).—‘Cutting, breaking, scratching, rubbing and clapping—these he shall not do without some purpose.’

Āpastamba (1.32.28).—‘Grass-chopping, clod-crushing, spitting—these, without necessity (should be avoided).’

Viṣṇu (71.42-43).—‘He shall not be a clod-crusher; nor a grass-chopper.’

Mahābhārata (Anuśāsana, 104.15).—‘He who crushes clods of earth or chops grass or eats his nails, is ever unclean and never attains long life.’