Verse 8.97

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

यावतो बान्धवान् यस्मिन् हन्ति साक्ष्येऽनृतं वदन् ।
तावतः सङ्ख्यया तस्मिन् शृणु सौम्यानुपूर्वशः ॥ ९७ ॥

yāvato bāndhavān yasmin hanti sākṣye'nṛtaṃ vadan |
tāvataḥ saṅkhyayā tasmin śṛṇu saumyānupūrvaśaḥ || 97 ||

‘Listen now, gentle friend, in due order, how many relatives, by number, one destroys by giving false evidence, in what cases.’—(97)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The present text introduces a section where it is pointed out that the degree of sin committed by the perjurer varies with the nature of the matter of the suit.

When this fact is asserted in the form of an address, it serves the purpose of indicating its importance, when something is said in secret, it is regarded as some slight matter, not of any importance; but what is said now is important, and hence should be listened to with attention,—such being the implication of the hortatory form adopted.

The term ‘gentle friend,’ in the singular form, is intended for Bhṛgu alone from among the several whom Manu is instructing.

‘Yaṣmin sākṣye’;—the two locatives are not in apposition; the meaning is—‘the false evidence that is given in regard to a certain subject-matter’;—so that the locative denotes ‘matter,’ while the locative absolute means something quite different. Or the diversity in the evidence being in accordance with the diversity in the matter, the two locatives may be in apposition also.

The term ‘tāvat’ is generally used to denote extent; and as extent is of various kinds, the author specifies it as being ‘by number.’

‘In due order,’—for the purpose of easier understanding; when a subject is stated in due order, it becomes easily understood. The ‘order’ meant here is with reference to the number; as it is number that is going to be described in the following verses.—(97)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Hanti’—‘Destroys—i.e., leads to hell’ (Medhātithi on 98, and Nārāyaṇa and Kullūka);—‘makes to fall from heaven, or makes to be born among lower animals’ (Rāghavānanda);—‘incurs the guilt of killing them’ (Kullūka, alternative).

‘Saumya’—Addressed to Bhṛgu (Medhātithi), but later on under 99, he rejects the view and says that it must be taken as addressed to the witness giving evidence.

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 674);—in Smṛticandrikā (Vyavahāra, p. 205);—and in Kṛtyakalpataru, (35b).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.89-97)

[See the texts under 79 et seq.]