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:

विद्या शिल्पं भृतिः सेवा गोरक्ष्यं विपणिः कृषिः ।
धृतिर्भैक्षं कुसीदं च दश जीवनहेतवः ॥ ११६ ॥

vidyā śilpaṃ bhṛtiḥ sevā gorakṣyaṃ vipaṇiḥ kṛṣiḥ |
dhṛtirbhaikṣaṃ kusīdaṃ ca daśa jīvanahetavaḥ || 116 ||

Learning, handicrafts, working on hire, service, cattle-tending, trade, agriculture, contentment, begging and money-lending,—these are the ten means of livelihood.—(116)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

This verse sets forth the means of livelihood for all men, during times of distress.

Learning’—here stands for sciences other than the Veda; such, for instance, as Medicine, Logic, Physics, Toxicology and so forth,—all which are not reprehensible, when used as a means of livelihood.

Handicraft.’—This has been already explained.

Working on hire’—as a servant

Service’—acting according to the wishes of another person.

Contentment’—This has been added only by way of illustration.

The meaning of this verse is that in the absence of the particular means of livelihood specifically assigned to each caste, these ten means are open to all men.—(116)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

“Govindarāja thinks that teaching for a stipulated fee is also permissible under this rule.”—Buhler.

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 936);—and in Mitākṣarā (3.42), both of which read ‘giriḥ’ for ‘dhṛtiḥ;’ ‘giriḥ’ is explained by Nandana as ‘selling of fruits and roots growing on hills.’

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Yājñavalkya (3.41).—‘Agriculture, mechanical arts, work for wages, learning, money-lending on interest, cart, hill, service, forest-land, King and begging alms—these are the means of livelihood in times of distress.’

Hārīta (Aparārka, p. 937).—‘In times of distress, agriculture may be undertaken.’

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