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...
Verse 11.215
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:
यतात्मनोऽप्रमत्तस्य द्वादशाहमभोजनम् ।
पराको नाम कृच्छ्रोऽयं सर्वपापापनोदनः ॥ २१५ ॥yatātmano'pramattasya dvādaśāhamabhojanam |
parāko nāma kṛcchro'yaṃ sarvapāpāpanodanaḥ || 215 ||If a man, self-controlled and guarded, fasts for twelve days,—this constitutes the ‘Kṛcchra’ name ‘Parāka’, which removes all sins.—(215)
Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Self-controlled’—with the senses under control, not longing for music and such amusements.
‘Guarded’— ever bent upon the penance.
This is purely commendatory, being common to all forms of ‘Kṛcchra’ (and not restricted to the Parāka only).—(215)
Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha
This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Prāyaścitta, p. 26), as describing the form of the ‘Parāka’ penance;—in Smṛtitattva (p. 546);—and in Prāyaścittaviveka (p. 514).
Comparative notes by various authors
Baudhāyana (4.5.15).—‘If self-restrained and attentive, he fasts during twelve days, that is called the Parākakṛcchra, which destroys all sin.’
Viṣṇu (46.18).—‘A total fast for twelve days is called Parāka.’
Yājñavalkya (3.320).—‘A twelve days’ fast has been called Parāka.’