Verse 7.37

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

ब्राह्मणान् पर्युपासीत प्रातरुत्थाय पार्थिवः ।
त्रैविद्यवृद्धान् विदुषस्तिष्ठेत् तेषां च शासने ॥ ३७ ॥

brāhmaṇān paryupāsīta prātarutthāya pārthivaḥ |
traividyavṛddhān viduṣastiṣṭhet teṣāṃ ca śāsane || 37 ||

After rising in the morning, the King shall wait upon the Brāhmaṇas, who are accomplished students of the Threefold Science and learned; and shall follow their advice.—(37)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘In the morning, having risen’—having left the bed and having said the Twilight Prayers in the prescribed manner,—he shall, first of all, grant an audience to the Brāhmaṇas.

‘Waiting upon’ stands for making them sit dose by and making enquiries regarding their welfare.

The prefix ‘pari’ has been added only for the filling up of the metre.

‘Shall follow their advice’. If they should happen to press for a favour for some one, their motive should not be suspected, nor should anything wrong be done.

‘Accomplished students of the Threefold Science’. The aggregate of the three Vedas is called ‘Threefold Science’: those who have studied these are called ‘students of the Threefold Science’, i.e., those who have studied the Ṛgveda, the Yajurveda and the Sāmaveda.

‘Learned’—Those who know what is contained in the Vedas.

The King shall wait upon Brāhmaṇas thus qualified; and shall act up to their behests.

‘Accomplished’—those who are the best, possessed of the most excellent qualifications, among them, in regard to the said knowledge and learning.—(37).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Viduṣaḥ’—‘Those who know the meaning of the Vedas’ (Medhātithi);—‘learned in the Sciences of Polity and the like’ (Kullūka).

This verse is quoted, along with verses 38 to 42, in Rājanītiratnākara (p. 56).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (3.76).—‘He should constantly show reverence to the gods and to the Brāhmaṇas.’

Arthaśāstra (p. 10).—‘He shall fix upon the Teachers and the Ministers as checks upon himself; as these would save him from improper positions and would regulate his activities by indicating the passage of time by means of shadows or time-sticks. Kingship is dependent upon assistant; a chariot never moves on a single wheel; therefore the king shall appoint ministers and listen to their opinions.’