Verse 9.318-319

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

श्मशानेष्वपि तेजस्वी पावको नैव दुष्यति ।
हूयमानश्च यज्ञेषु भूय एवाभिवर्धते ॥ ३१८ ॥
एवं यद्यप्यनिष्टेषु वर्तन्ते सर्वकर्मसु ।
सर्वथा ब्राह्मणाः पूज्याः परमं दैवतं हि तत् ॥ ३१९ ॥

śmaśāneṣvapi tejasvī pāvako naiva duṣyati |
hūyamānaśca yajñeṣu bhūya evābhivardhate || 318 ||
evaṃ yadyapyaniṣṭeṣu vartante sarvakarmasu |
sarvathā brāhmaṇāḥ pūjyāḥ paramaṃ daivataṃ hi tat || 319 ||

Even though in the cremation-ground, the brilliant fire is not defiled, and it flourishes again when libations are poured unto it at sacrifices.—(318)

Similarly even though they betake themselves to all sorts of undesirable acts, yet Brāhmaṇas should be honoured in every way; for they are the greatest divinity.—(319)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

(verses 9.318-319)

What is said here has already gone before. The sense is that even though ill-behaved, the Brāhmaṇa shall not be ill-treated.

‘Undesirable’—forbidden.

When they betake themselves to forbidden acts, they shall be dealt and punished according to law, gently, and not attacked with force, in the manner of other castes.—(318-319)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

(verse 9.318)

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Rājanīti, p. 151).

(verse 9.319)

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Rājanīti, p. 151).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 9.313-322)

See Comparative notes for Verse 9.313.