Verse 4.218

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

राजान्नं तेज आदत्ते शूद्रान्नं ब्रह्मवर्चसम् ।
आयुः सुवर्णकारान्नं यशश्चर्मावकर्तिनः ॥ २१८ ॥

rājānnaṃ teja ādatte śūdrānnaṃ brahmavarcasam |
āyuḥ suvarṇakārānnaṃ yaśaścarmāvakartinaḥ || 218 ||

The king’s food takes off one’s vigour and the Śūdra’s food his Brahmic glory; the goldsmith’s food his longevity, and the l eather-cutter’s food hi s fame.—(218)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The Text now proceeds to describe the effects of transgressing the above prohibitions.

One who eats the king’s food loses his vigour; and so with all the rest.

The terms ‘goldsmith’ and the rest, are denotative of particular professions; so that those persons who deal in making articles of gold are called goldsmiths. Similarly, with ‘dyer’ and other terms. Those who cut leather are called ‘leather-cutters,’ this name being applied to those who live by this trade.

In the present context, there are some whose food has not been forbidden in the foregoing verses; but the evil results flowing therefrom are now described; the prohibition of these is to be inferred from the latter.—(218)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 507);—in Smṛtitattva (p. 542) to the effect that the eating of King’s food involves a heavy penance;—in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 782);—and in Prāyaścittaviveka, (p. 352).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (35. 27).—[Same as Manu, but reading for the last quarter ‘Avīrāyāśca yoṣitaḥ,’ ‘of the maleless woman.’]

Vaśiṣṭha (14.3).—(See above.)

Viṣṇu (51. 8).—‘The food of the carpenter and of the leather-cutter.’

Āpastamba (9.28).—‘The King’s food takes off one’s vigour, and the Śūdra’s food one’s Brāhmic glory; he who cats unpurified food, eats the dirt of the earth.’