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...

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

नियुक्तायामपि पुमान्नार्यां जातोऽविधानतः ।
नैवार्हः पैतृकं रिक्थं पतितोत्पादितो हि सः ॥ १४४ ॥

niyuktāyāmapi pumānnāryāṃ jāto'vidhānataḥ |
naivārhaḥ paitṛkaṃ rikthaṃ patitotpādito hi saḥ || 144 ||

The made child of an ‘authorised’ woman, if not begotten in the prescribed manner, is not entitled to the paternal property; as he is procreated by outcasts.—(144)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Not in the prescribed manner;’—i.e., not wearing the white dress and observing such details.

He is not entitled to the property; i.e., he shall not be treated as the ‘Kṣetraja’ son.

The brother-in-law ‘and the sister-in-law are both rightly regarded as ‘outcasts,’ on account of their having not obeyed the restrictions, in the begetting of the son; since what is permitted by the scriptures is only such intercourse as is done in strict accordance with the rules laid down.—(144)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara, (p. 587), which explains ‘avidhānataḥ’ as ‘not in accordance with the method prescribed for Niyoga’;—and in Dattakamīmānsā, (p. 29) as referring to the Kṣetraja son.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 9.143-144)

See Comparative notes for Verse 9.143.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: