Verse 11.192

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

प्रायश्चित्तं चिकीर्षन्ति विकर्मस्थास्तु ये द्विजाः ।
ब्रह्मणा च परित्यक्तास्तेषामप्येतदादिशेत् ॥ १९२ ॥

prāyaścittaṃ cikīrṣanti vikarmasthāstu ye dvijāḥ |
brahmaṇā ca parityaktāsteṣāmapyetadādiśet || 192 ||

When twice-born men, who follow improper occupations, or who are abandoned by the Veda, are desirous of performing expiations—for these also this same expiation is to be prescribed.—(192)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Who follow improper occupations’;—e.g., Brāhmaṇas engaged in the service of a Śūdra. The proper occupation for each man is indicated by the livelihood that has been prescribed for him; occupations other than that would he ‘improper.’ That occupation which is prescribed for twice-born men would be ‘improper’ for persons other than twice-born.

‘Abandoned by the Veda’— those who, though initiated, have not studied the Veda,—or having studied have forgotten it.

For those also there should be the ‘three Kṛcchras.’

‘Are desirous of performing expiations.’—This is purely reiterative; as people take to an action only when they have a desire for it.—(192)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (1107.)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (54.27).—‘Those twice-born men who are anxious to make an atonement for having committed an unlawful act, or for having neglected the study of the Veda, must he made to perform the same penance (three Prājāpatyas).’