Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi

by Ganganatha Jha | 1920 | 1,381,940 words | ISBN-10: 8120811550 | ISBN-13: 9788120811553

This is the English translation of the Manusmriti, which is a collection of Sanskrit verses dealing with ‘Dharma’, a collective name for human purpose, their duties and the law. Various topics will be dealt with, but this volume of the series includes 12 discourses (adhyaya). The commentary on this text by Medhatithi elaborately explains various t...

Verse 9.88 [The Marriage of Girls]

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

उत्कृष्टायाभिरूपाय वराय सदृशाय च ।
अप्राप्तामपि तां तस्मै कन्यां दद्याद् यथाविधि ॥ ८८ ॥

utkṛṣṭāyābhirūpāya varāya sadṛśāya ca |
aprāptāmapi tāṃ tasmai kanyāṃ dadyād yathāvidhi || 88 ||

One shall give his daughter in the proper form, even though she may not have attained (the age), to a bridegroom who is of exceptionally distinguished appearance, and her equal.—(88)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Utkṛṣṭāyci-abhirupāya.’—The first term qualifies the second; and the meaning is ‘who is of exceptionally distinguished appearance.’—Or, the two terms may be taken as two distinct qualifications—‘utkṛṣṭāya’ meaning ‘one whose caste and other qualifications are remarkable,’ and ‘abhirūpāya’ meaning ‘handsome’;—the literal signification of the term being ‘rūpam ābhimukhyena prāptaḥ,’ ‘who has acquired a good appearance.’—Or, ‘abhirūpāya’ may mean well-disposed; it is in this sense that a learned man also is called ‘abhirūpa.’

Equal’—in caste and other matters.

Bridegroom’—one who marries; the son-in-law.

She who has not attained’;—i.e., who has no carnal desires aroused, who is still too young, not having reached the youthful age,—called ‘nagnikā’ in another Smṛti-text; i.e., one in whom the sexual instinct has not arisen, who is only eight or six years old,—but not a mere infant; as is indicated by the qualifications (elsewhere)—‘one who is eight years old.’ This same qualification may also be indicative of the fact that marriage is meant to be conducive to spiritual merit If mere Lust were the sole inducement to Marriage, wherefore could there be any marriage of the girl ‘who has not attained her age’?

There is no force however in this; as people are found to many very young girls with a view to her dowry. And it has been fully explained under Discourse III that all forms of activity are not in accordance with what is laid down in the scriptures.—(88)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

Aprāptām’—‘Who has not attained the marriageable age,’ (Medhātithi and Rāghavānanda);—‘who has not attained eight years of age’ (Kullūka and Nārāyaṇa).

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 481), which explains ‘aprāptām’ as ‘one whose marriage time has not arrived, i. e., who is still a child’;—in Smṛtitattva (II, p. 124), which explains ‘aprāptām’ as ‘one who has not attained the age that is most commended for marriage’;—in Vīramitrodya (Saṃskāra, p. 755), which reproduces the explanation of ‘aprāptām’ given in Parāśaramādhava;—in Smṛtikaumudī (p. 39), as countenancing the marrying of a girl even before she is of the proper age;—in Śuddhikaumudī (p. 30) to the same effect;—and in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 103), which explains ‘aprāptām’ as ‘one who has not attained the right age,’ who may be given away in consideration of the special qualifications of the bridegroom.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 9.88-89)

Gautama (18-21).—‘A girl should be given in marriage before puberty.’

Vaśiṣṭha (17.70).—‘Out of fear of the appearance of the menses, let the father marry his daughter while she still runs about naked. For if she stays in the home after the age of puberty, sin falls on the father.’

Baudhāyana (4. 1.11).—‘Let him give his daughter, while she still goes about naked, to a man who has not broken the vow of chastity and who possesses good qualities, or even to one destitute of good qualities; let him not keep the maiden in his house after she has reached the age of puberty.’

Yama (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 754).—‘Family, character, beautiful body, age, learning, wealth, presence of guardians,—these seven qualifications should he sought for before a girl is given away; nothing else need he considered.’

Lalla (Do.).—‘Caste, learning, age, character, health, large family, wealth, Brahmanic character,—these eight should he the qualities of the Bridegroom.’

Gautama (Do.).—‘One should give away his daughter to a man who is endowed with learning, character, relations and good conduct.’

Śātātapa (Do., p. 755).—‘That bridegroom should he selected who is seeking for a wife and is endowed with good family and character, handsome, learned, intelligent and young, and free from defects.’

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