Verse 4.253

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

आर्धिकः कुलमित्रं च गोपालो दासनापितौ ।
एते शूद्रेषु भोज्यान्ना याश्चात्मानं निवेदयेत् ॥ २५३ ॥

ārdhikaḥ kulamitraṃ ca gopālo dāsanāpitau |
ete śūdreṣu bhojyānnā yāścātmānaṃ nivedayet || 253 ||

His own ploughman, hereditary friend, cowherd, slave and barder,—among Śūdras; these are persons whose food may be eaten; as also one who offers himself.—(253)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Ardhika,’ ‘Ploughman,’ is the man who ploughs his family-holdings for him.

‘Cowherd and slave’—arc terms denoting relationship. One may eat food of that person who keeps his cows for him.

‘He who offers himself;’—saying, ‘you are my sole refuge; I live solely dependent upon you’—one who offers oneself in this manner, is also one whose food may be eaten.—(253).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (57.16)—(Same as Manu.)

Gautama (17, 5-6).—‘Livelihood should not be sought for from Śūdras.—Cattle-keeper, field-plougher, hereditary friend of the family, father’s servants,—the food of these Śūdras may be eaten.’

Āpastamba (1.17.14).—‘Oneshould not eat food exposed in the market.’

Āpastamba (1.18.14).—‘Even of the Śūdra (food may be eaten) if he is righteous.’

Hārīta (Vīramitrodaya-Āhnika, p. 494).—‘What is roasted or cooked in oil, or in milk, or flour cooked in curds, these may be eaten even from a Śūdra—says Manu.’

Yājñavalkya (Vīramitrodaya-Āhnika, p. 492).—‘Among Śūdras, the slave, cowherd, hereditary friend, partner in ploughs, barber, and he who surrenders himself—are persons whose food may be eaten.’

Devala (Do.).—‘One’s own slave, barber, cowherd, potters, ploughman,—these five Śūdras are those whose food may be eaten even by Brāhmaṇas.’

Aṅgiras (p. 493).—‘Milk, saktu, oil, cakes, ground sesamum and things made with milk may be eaten even from a Śūdra.’