Verse 7.35

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

स्वे स्वे धर्मे निविष्टानां सर्वेषामनुपूर्वशः ।
वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च राजा सृष्टोऽभिरक्षिता ॥ ३५ ॥

sve sve dharme niviṣṭānāṃ sarveṣāmanupūrvaśaḥ |
varṇānāmāśramāṇāṃ ca rājā sṛṣṭo'bhirakṣitā || 35 ||

The King has been created the protector of all castes and orders, who, in due order, are intent upon their respective duties.—(35).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The King has been created as the protector of people intent upon their duties; so that if the King fails to protect those who are engaged in their duties, he incurs sin: on the other hand, if those who have swerved from their duty happen to be attacked by some person, this would not entail any grievous offence on the part of the King. This is what is meant by the phrase ‘respective duties’

Or, the passage may he construed as containing a negative particle prefixed to the term ‘niviṣṭānām’, which is to be read as ‘a-niviṣṭanam’, ‘not conversant.’ The meaning in this case would be that ‘the king shall not adopt a hostile attitude towards those persons who are not conversant with their duties through the scriptures or through the advice of friends and others’.

The term ‘caste’ has been added for the purpose of securing protection for women and children also,—these not belonging to any ‘order.’

In that case why should the orders have been mentioned?”

It is for the purpose of indicating their predominance that they have been separately mentioned; the expression being analogous to such expressions us ‘Brāhmaṇa-Vāśiṣṭha (the Brāhmaṇas and those of the race of Vaśiṣṭha, where the latter, though included among ‘Brāhmaṇas’ are mentioned separately with a view to indicate their importance).

Or, the particular form of the expression may have been adopted for the purpose of indicating the motive (of protection); the sense being that they should be protected in such a way that they do not deviate from their duties in the shape of proceeding from stage to stage, saying of the Twilight Prayers and so forth; in the performance of their ordinary duties they shall not be permitted to be struck with a stick etc. by other people, for if this protection were not vouchsafed, there would be no end to troubles and difficulties. This is the ‘protection’ that is meant here.

Nor should people be allowed to interfere with the fulfilment of such caste-duties as the saying of the Twilight Prayers and the like. Thus a twofold duty rests upon the King; hence the mention of both ‘castes’ and ‘orders.’

This is what is meant by the words of Gautama—‘He shall protect according to Law, the castes and orders’ (11-9).—(35).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Kāmandaka (2.35).—‘The king promoting the Varṇas and Āśramas and living according to these usages, and knowing their duties, becomes worthy of a place in Indra’s heaven.’

Matsyapurāṇa (Vīramitrodaya-Rāja, p. 121),—‘The highest duty of the king consists in keeping all the castes fixed to their respective duties; hence he should devote his attention to that. Those who have deviated from their duties, the king shall make revert thereto.’

Viṣṇu (Vīramitrodaya-Rāja, p. 121).—‘Keeping all the castes firm in their duties.’