Verse 3.126

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

सत्क्रियां देशकालौ च शौचं ब्राह्मणसम्पदः ।
पञ्चैतान् विस्तरो हन्ति तस्मान्नैहेत विस्तरम् ॥ १२६ ॥

satkriyāṃ deśakālau ca śaucaṃ brāhmaṇasampadaḥ |
pañcaitān vistaro hanti tasmānnaiheta vistaram || 126 ||

Respectful treatment, place and time, purity and the qualities of Brāhmaṇas,—a large company hampers these five; therefore one shall not seek a large company.—(126)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Since ‘large company’ entails all these defects, therefore ‘large company’ is not considered desirable. When, however, respectful treatment and the rest are found feasible, then one might net according to one’s enthusiasm.

‘Respectful treatment’—careful preparation of the food.

‘Place’—ground sloping to the south, and so forth (which has been recommended for Śrāddhas), as one going to be described below (in 207).

‘Time’—the afternoon; laid dowu in such texts as ‘when the sun has just passed the meridian, &c.’

‘Purity’—of oneself, of the Brāhmaṇas invited, and of his own servants.

‘Qualities of Brāhmaṇas’—the obtaining of qualified Brāhmaṇas.

All these advantages are such as must be secured; and these are hampered by having a large company; hence large company becomes a drawback; and this is involved in inviting too many Brāhmaṇas. Hence ‘one should not seek’—bring together—‘a large company.’— (126)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Nirṇayasindhu (p. 287);—also in Aparārka (p. 463);—in Gadādharapaddhati (Kāla, p. 511);—in Śrāddhakriyākaumudī (p. 94).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Baudhāyana (2.8.22).—[Same as Manu.]

Vaśiṣṭha (11.26).—[Same as Manu.]