Verse 11.204 [Expiation for hurting and insulting a Brāhmaṇa]

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

हुङ्कारं ब्राह्मणस्योक्त्वा त्वङ्कारं च गरीयसः ।
स्नात्वाऽनश्नन्नहः शेषमभिवाद्य प्रसादयेत् ॥ २०४ ॥

huṅkāraṃ brāhmaṇasyoktvā tvaṅkāraṃ ca garīyasaḥ |
snātvā'naśnannahaḥ śeṣamabhivādya prasādayet || 204 ||

If a man has uttered the syllable ‘hum’ against a Brāhmaṇa, or has addressed a superior person as ‘thou,’—he shall bathe, fast for the rest of the day and having saluted him, shall propitiate him.—(204)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The syllable ‘hum’ is uttered as a sign of anger and insult; e.g., in such expressions as—‘Keep quiet, hum! don’t speak like this’ and so forth;—the syllable ‘hum’ being uttered by way of a prohibition.

‘Against a Brāhmaṇa,’—be he older, or equal or younger, a pupil or a son.

Similarly—‘if he addresses a superior person as “Thou,”’—e.g., ‘Thou sayest so,’ ‘thou didst this.’

The expiation here laid down is for the use of the singular form of the pronoun ‘Yuṣmat’; and no significance is meant to be attached to the special Nominative-ending (in the term ‘tvam’ here used). In actual usage, speaking to their superiors, people make use of such forms as ‘Yuṣmāsu’ the Plural form (in the Locative).

‘Should bathe and fast’—which moans the dropping of the morning-meal.

‘Having saluted’—fallen on his feet,—‘he shall propitiate him’—make him give up his anger—and then take his meal.—(204)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 1185);—and in Parāśaramādhava (Prāyaścitta, p. 355), as laying down fasting.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 11.204-206)

Parāśara (11.49-50).—(Same as Manu.)

Yājñavalkya (3.292).—‘For addressing one’s elder with such disrespectful terms as “Tvam” and “Hum,” for defeating him in a discussion, or for binding him with a cloth, one should immediately appease him and fast during the day.’

Yama (Aparārka, p. 1185).—‘For addressing unspeakable words to a Brāhmaṇa, the expiation ordained is that the man should perform the Kṛcchrātikṛcchra penance and appease the insulted person by falling at his feet; and for tying a cloth round his neck, the expiation prescribed is that the man shall fast for three days and appease him by falling at his feet. If one falsely calumniates the Brāhmaṇa, or injures him, he shall fast for one day, or for three days, or for six days, according to circumstances.’