Verse 11.76

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

सर्वस्वं वेदविदुषे ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत् ।
धनं हि जीवनायालं गृहं वा सपरिच्छदम् ॥ ७६ ॥

sarvasvaṃ vedaviduṣe brāhmaṇāyopapādayet |
dhanaṃ hi jīvanāyālaṃ gṛhaṃ vā saparicchadam || 76 ||

He shall make over to a Brāhmaṇa learned in the Veda, his entire property, which should be wealth sufficient for his maintenance,—or a house along with the furniture.—(76)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

He shall give away everything that he may be possessed of, in the shape of gold, cattle and the like.

The author adds a declamatory qualification—‘wealth sufficient for his maintenance’:—That is the giving of the property would be equal to making a gift to him of his life.

‘Or, a house along with the furniture.’—‘Furniture’ includes all such household accessories as butter, oil, grains, pots and pans, metals, beds, seats and so forth.—(76)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Mitākṣarā (3.250);—in Aparārka (p. 1061), which adds the following notes:—One who is unable to provide property enough for his lifelong maintenance, should give a house with furniture, and if unable to give this latter, he should give away all that he possesses;—in Madanapārijāta (p. 802), which also adds the same note;—in Parāśaramādhava (Prāyaścitta, p. 399), which adds that the rule is that one who is sonless shall give away his entire property, while one who has a son shall give only a house with furniture;—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Prāyaścitta 6a.)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 11.72-86)

See Comparative notes for Verse 11.72.