Verse 10.62 [Improvement in the Status of Castes]

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

ब्राह्मणार्थे गवार्थे वा देहत्यागोऽनुपस्कृतः ।
स्त्रीबालाभ्युपपत्तौ च बाह्यानां सिद्धिकारणम् ॥ ६२ ॥

brāhmaṇārthe gavārthe vā dehatyāgo'nupaskṛtaḥ |
strībālābhyupapattau ca bāhyānāṃ siddhikāraṇam || 62 ||

For aliens perfection is secured by unrequitedly giving up the body for the sake of Brāhmaṇas and cows, and in defence of women and children.—(62)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Unrequitedly’—without: receiving any reward.

‘Defence’—favour.

‘Aliens’—children born in the ‘inverse order.’

‘Perfection is secured’;—the attaining of a superior caste is called ‘perfection,’ on the ground of its leading up to it; the meaning being that these people come to be born in a caste where they become entitled to the rights and responsibilities of the higher caste.

Or, ‘perfection’ may stand for the attaining of heaven.—(62)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 119):—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Prāyaścitta 7b.)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (13.48.34-35).—‘Rendering help to cows and Brāhmaṇas, and practising sympathy, mercy, truthfulness, forgiveness and protecting others even by one’s own body,—these are the means of success for outcasts.’

Viṣṇu (16.18).—‘Giving up life, regardless of any reward, in order to save a Brāhmaṇa, or a cow, or for the sake of a woman or a child,—may confer heavenly bliss even upon members of the base castes.’