Verse 3.180

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

सोमविक्रयिणे विष्ठा भिषजे पूयशोणितम् ।
नष्टं देवलके दत्तमप्रतिष्ठं तु वार्धुषौ ॥ १८० ॥

somavikrayiṇe viṣṭhā bhiṣaje pūyaśoṇitam |
naṣṭaṃ devalake dattamapratiṣṭhaṃ tu vārdhuṣau || 180 ||

What is given to the Soma-seller becomes ordure; to the physician, pus and blood; that to the temple-attendant becomes lost; and that to the usurer has no place.—(180)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The sense is that the man becomes born in that species of creatures where ordure is eaten.

Similarly, with the physician.

‘Becomes lost’—i.e., fruitless; or source of anxiety; anything that is ‘lost’ becomes a source of anxiety.

That which has no place, no existence at all, is called ‘apratiṣṭham.’

Various forms of expression have been used here to show the fruitlessness of the gift and also the evils attaching to the giver. The terms ‘lost’ and ‘without place’ should not be regarded as synonymous, as there is a distinct difference in their effects.—(180)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

What is meant is that ‘the man will be born as an animal feeding upon the things specified’ (according to Medhātithi, Govindarāja, Kullūka and Rāghavānanda);—that ‘the food will be rejected by the Pitṛs and Gods, as impure’ (according to Nārāyaṇa).

‘Apratiṣṭham’—‘Has no place’ (Medātithi, Govindarāja, Kullūka and Rāghvānanda);—‘secures no fame to the giver’ (Nārāyaṇa).

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 454).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (13.90, 13, 14).—‘What is given to the Soma-seller and to the physician becomes pus and blood; what is given to the temple-servant perishes; it is neither here nor there.’