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:

काममुत्पाद्य कृष्यां तु स्वयमेव कृषीवलः ।
विक्रीणीत तिलांशूद्रान् धर्मार्थमचिरस्थितान् ॥ ९० ॥

kāmamutpādya kṛṣyāṃ tu svayameva kṛṣīvalaḥ |
vikrīṇīta tilāṃśūdrān dharmārthamacirasthitān || 90 ||

But the agriculturist may, if he wishes, sell pure sesamum for sacred purposes, if he has cultivated them himself and has not kept these long.—(90)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Under 86, the selling of ‘cooked food and sesamum’ has been forbidden; and to this the present verse is an exception, in view of certain special conditions and purposes.

Pure,’ ‘not kept long’;—these refer to the condition of the grains; and ‘for sacred purposes’—refers to the purpose.

Pure ’— ‘not mixed with Vrīhi and other grains. There is possibility of mixed sesamum being sold for the purposes of preparing ‘mixed food.’

Not kept long.’—This implies that the man shall not keep back the grains with the idea that they are selling cheap now, but after a few days they shall fetch higher prices.

Or, ‘pure’ may mean not black; the prohibition applying to black sesamum; and sesamum becomes black if kept for a long time. The meaning is that he shall not sell black sesamum after having grown or bought it.

The agriculturist,’ ‘if he has cultivated it himself.’ These words are only descriptive, and much significance is not meant to be attached to them.

The selling of grains obtained in gifts is also not forbidden.

For moved purposes.’ For instance, when sesamum is sold for the purpose of obtaining money whereby to buy the cow to be given as a sacrificial fee, or when it is sold for the performance of Vedic study, Agnihotra and such rites, or when it is sold for the purpose of buying with the price thus obtained, Vrīhi and other corns needed for the performance of the Darśapūrṇamāsa and other sacrifices. In all these cases the selling is ‘for a sacred purpose’;—or, when the sesamum itself is used by the purchaser for such religious acts as making gifts, or for getting oil for medicinal purposes.—(90)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

Śuddhān’—‘unmixed’ (Medhātithi, Govindarāja, Kullūka and Rāghavānanda);—‘white’ (Nandana);—‘of good quality’ (Nārāyaṇa).

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 431) as permitting the selling of sesamum. It notes on this point two views—(a) that what is said here refers to exchanging, and (b) that it permits the selling only for the purpose of paying off a debt not otherwise payable;—aṇd it prefers the latter.

It is quoted in Mitākṣarā (3.39), which adds that ‘dharma’ stands for such necessities as medication and the like.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 10.85-93)

See Comparative notes for Verse 10.85.

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