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:

सर्वरत्नानि राजा तु यथार्हं प्रतिपादयेत् ।
ब्राह्मणान् वेदविदुषो यज्ञार्थं चैव दक्षिणाम् ॥ ४ ॥

sarvaratnāni rājā tu yathārhaṃ pratipādayet |
brāhmaṇān vedaviduṣo yajñārthaṃ caiva dakṣiṇām || 4 ||

On Brāhmaṇas learned in the veda, the king shall bestow, according to their desert, all kinds of jewels, as also presents for sacrificial performances.—(4)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The giving of gifts has been laid down for all castes, as fulfilling man’s purpose, by leading men to heaven. The present text sets forth rules regarding gifts to be made by the king.

If the king is possessed of much wealth, he ‘shall bestow on,’—give to, make accept—‘Brāhmaṇas, all kinds of jewels’—pearls and the rest—‘according to their desert,’—in accordance with the learning and character of each man;—‘also presents for sacrificial performances;’—this has been repeated with a view to showing that such presents shall he made even for the purpose of enabling the Brāhmaṇas to perform such rites as are not compulsory, but are performed with a view to a certain reward.—(4)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (12.165.4).—(Same as Manu.)

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