Verse 2.45

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

ब्राह्मणो बैल्वपालाशौ क्षत्रियो वाटखादिरौ ।
पैलवौदुम्बरौ वैश्यो दण्डानर्हन्ति धर्मतः ॥ ४५ ॥

brāhmaṇo bailvapālāśau kṣatriyo vāṭakhādirau |
pailavaudumbarau vaiśyo daṇḍānarhanti dharmataḥ || 45 ||

The Brāhmaṇa should, by law, have staves of Bilva and Palāśa wood; the Kṣatriya those of Vaṭa and Khadira; and the Vaiśya those of Pīlu and Udumbara.—(45).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Even though the text uses the Copulative Compound (which implies that two staves have to be carried), yet, in as much as in connection with the detailed qualifications of the staff laid down in the text, we find the singular number used,—e.g., in the next verse, and in Verse 18 below,—it is understood that only one staff is to be carried; specially as in the Gṛhya-sūtra we read—‘the Brāhmaṇa’s staff’ is of Bilva or Palāśa’; and the Gautama-sūtra speaks of the carrying of one staff only. In the present context all that is done is to lay down the mere possibility of the staff; the expression ‘should have staves’ meaning that the said staves are fit for Brahmacārīs. As regards the question as to the act during which the staff is to be held, we shall have the answer in Verse 48 below; so that the staff being only an auxiliary to that act, the singular number used in that verse must be regarded as significant. For these reasons the

Dual number used in the present verse must be taken merely as referring to all possible staves; just like the plural number in the assertion—‘if God were to give rain many persons would take to cultivation.’

‘Bilva,’ ‘Palāśa,’ ‘Vaṭa,’ ‘Khadira’ Pīlu’ and ‘bara’ are names of particular species of trees.

‘Bailva’ means ‘made of Bilva’; and so with the rest.

The naming of the woods is meant to be merely illustrative; as the general rule is that ‘staves made of sacred woods are fit for all castes’ (Gautama 1.1.24).

These staves the Brahmacārīs ‘should have’ during the act to be described below (in 48);—‘by law’—i.e., in accordance with scriptural injunctions.—(45)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 447);—in Madanapārijāta (p. 22),—in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 436);—in Smṛtitattva (p. 930), which last points out that the copulative compound ‘bailvapālaśau’ should not be taken to imply that two staves have to be taken up; because later on, in verse 48, we have the singular form ‘daṇḍam’;—in Nirṇayasindhu (p. 189), and Aparārka (p. 57);—in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Saṃskāra p. 43b);—in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 77), which adds that the text lays down optional alternatives;—in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 37), which adds that a combination of all the staves is not meant, only one staff being held, as is clear from the singular number in the next verse; they are to be taken as optional alternatives;—and in Saṃskāraratnamālā (p. 193), which, along with Mayūkha reads ‘paippala’ or ‘pailava,’ and adds that option is clearly meant.

 

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Bodhāyana-Dhannasūtra, 1.2.16.—‘The staves are to be of a sacrificial tree.’

Gautama-Dharmasūtra, 1.21.26.—‘The staff of the Brāhmaṇa is of Bilva and Palāśa; for the rest, of Aśvattha and Pīlu; or for all, of some sacrificial wood.’

Āpastamba-Dharmasūtra, 1.2.37.—‘The staff for tho Brāhmaṇa is of Palāśa; for the Kṣatriya, of the trunk or of the lower ends of the Nyagrodha tree; for the Vaiśya, of Badara or Udumbara; some people prescribe simply that the staff should be of some tree, without reference to particular castes.’

Vaśiṣṭha-Smṛti, 11.45.—‘For the Brāhmaṇa, the staff is of Palāśa or Bilva; for the Kṣatriya of Nyagrodha; for the Vaiśya, of Udumbara.’

Viṣṇu-Smṛti, 27.21.—‘Staves are of Palāśa, Khadira and Udumbara.’

Āśvalāyana-Gṛhyasūtra, 19.12-13.—‘The staff for the Brāhmaṇa is of Palāśa; for the Kṣatriya, of Udumbara; for the Vaiśva, of Bilva.’

Pāraskara-Gṛhyasūtra, 2.5.25-28.—‘The staff for the Brāhmaṇa is of Palāśa; for the Kṣatriya, of Bilva; for the Vaiśya, of Udumbara; or all for all.’

Gobhila-Gṛhyasūtra, 2.10.11.—‘Staves are of Palāśa, Bilva and Aśvattha.’

Hīraṇyakeśin (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskāra, p. 134).—‘The staff for the Brāhmaṇa is of Bilva or Palāśa; for the Kṣatriya, of Nyagrodha; for the Vaiśya, of Udumbara.’

Bhaviṣya-purāṇa (Do., p. 434).—‘For the Brāhmaṇa, the staff is of Bilva, Palāśa and Plakṣa; for the Kṣatriya, of Nyagrodha, Khadira and Vetasa; for tho Vaiśya, of Pīlu, Udumbara and Aśvattha.’

Śaṅkha (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskara, p. 435).—‘The staves are of Palāśa, Pippala and Bilva, respectively.’

Śaṅkha-Likhita (Do., p.437).—‘Staves of Bilva, Palāśa, Khadira, Aśvattha, Pīlu and Udumbara.’

Paiṭhīnasi (Do., 435).—‘For the Vaiśya, of Udumbara or Badara and Varaṇa.’

Yama (Aparārka, p. 57).—‘In the absence of those enumerated, any sacrificial wood may be used by any caste.’

The ‘sacrificial trees have been enumerated in Brahma-purāṇa, as follows:—‘Śamī, Palāśa, Nyagrodha, Plakṣa, Vikaṅkata, Aśvattha, Udumbara, Bilva, Chandana, Sarala, Sālva, Devadāru and Khadira.’ (Vīramitrodaya-Saṃskara, p. 435).