Verse 10.94

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

रसा रसैर्निमातव्या न त्वेव लवणं रसैः ।
कृतान्नं च कृतान्नेन तिला धान्येन तत्समाः ॥ ९४ ॥

rasā rasairnimātavyā na tveva lavaṇaṃ rasaiḥ |
kṛtānnaṃ ca kṛtānnena tilā dhānyena tatsamāḥ || 94 ||

Savoury articles should be bartered for savoury articles, but never salt for another savoury article,—cooked food, for cooked food, and sesamum for corn, in equal quantities.—(94)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Savoury articles’— described above—‘should be buttered for savoury substances .’ That is, one should receive the Āmalakī and other acids after giving, in exchange, sugar and other sweet substances. But in no case should salt be given in exchange for any other ‘savoury substance.’

‘Lavaṇam tilaiḥ’ is another reading; by which the prohibition would be only in regard to the bartering of salt for sesamum only, and not any other substance.

‘Cooked food’— such as fried flour, cooked rice and so forth—should be bartered for other kinds of ‘cooked food’—cakes and the like.

‘Sesamum shall be bartered for corns’—Vrīhi and the rest—‘in equal quantities.’ That is, given one seer (of sesamum), he shall receive one seer in exchange; more or less shall not be received, through any consideration of relative values.

‘Bartering’ also is regarded as a kind of selling; on the ground that the root to ‘sell,’ ‘ Kṛṛ (?)’is found mentioned among the roots signifying the act of ‘exchanging.’

This however is not right. Because Gautama has indicated the difference between the two, by speaking of ‘selling’ and ‘bartering’ in the same sentence. So that when things are given on the receipt of the rupee or such tokens, it is ‘selling’; and it is ‘bartering’ when one article is received in exchange for another article.—(94)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Mitākṣarā (3.39), which adds the following notes:—‘Kṛtānna’ is cooked food, and this should be exchanged with cooked food; it notes the. reading ‘Kṛtānnañcākṛtannena’, and explains it as ‘cooked food should be exchanged for uncooked rice and other grains’.

It is quoted in Aparārka (p. 933);—in Madanapārijāta (p. 233), which explains ‘nimātavyāḥ’ as ‘should be exchanged’;—in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra p. 431), which adds that the law laid down regarding the selling of sesamum applies to that of rasas also;—in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 124);—and in Prāyaścittaviveka (p. 429).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Gautama (7.16-23).—‘But it is permissible to barter one kind of substances used for flavouring for others, and animals. Salt and prepared food must not be bartered, nor sesamum. But for present use, an equal quantity of uncooked food may be exchanged for cooked food.—But if no other course is possible, a Brāhmaṇa may support himself in any way except by following the occupations of a Śūdra. Some people permit even this in case his life is in danger.’

Āpastamba (1.20.14-16—1.21.1-4).—‘The exchange of one of these (above-mentioned goods) for the other is likewise unlawful. But food may be exchanged for food, and slaves for slaves, and condiments for condiments, and perfumes for perfumes and learning for learning. Let him traffic with lawful merchandise which he has not bought, with Muñja grass, Balvaja -g rass, roots and fruits; and with grass and wood which have not been worked up. He shall not be too eager for such livelihood. If he obtains another livelihood, he shall leave off trading.’

Vaśiṣṭha (2.37-39).—‘Substances used for flavouring may be bartered for other substances of the same kind, be it for one more valuable or for one worth less. But salt must never be exchanged for other substances used for flavouring. It is permitted to barter sesamum, rice, cooked food, learning, and slaves.’