Verse 4.235

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

योऽर्चितं प्रतिगृह्णाति ददात्यर्चितमेव वा ।
तावुभौ गच्छतः स्वर्गं नरकं तु विपर्यये ॥ २३५ ॥

yo'rcitaṃ pratigṛhṇāti dadātyarcitameva vā |
tāvubhau gacchataḥ svargaṃ narakaṃ tu viparyaye || 235 ||

He who receives respectfully, as well as he who gives respectfully,—both these go to heaven; but to hell, in the contrary case.—(235)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Gifts should he bestowed with respect; they should be received also in the same manner. The sense of the verse is that gifts shall not be bestowed in a disrespectful manner.

‘Arcitam,’ ‘respectfully,’ is an adverb.—(235)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 290);—and in Smṛtitattva (p. 894), which adds the followings—where the giver gives with respect, and the receiver receives it with respect,—both go to heaven; while by giving or receiving with disrespect, both go to hell’—such is the explanation given by Kullūka Bhaṭṭa. Thus the ‘arcā’, ‘respect’, which appears as an adverb, serves as an adjective also, qualifying the men concerned; it is for this reason that Maithila writers have declared that gifts should be made after the object to be given as well as the Brāhmaṇa receiving it have both been worshipped;—and in Dānakriyākaumudī (p. 8).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 4.234-239)

See Comparative notes for Verse 4.234.