Verse 3.246

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

उच्छेषणां भूमिगतमजिह्मस्याशठस्य च ।
दासवर्गस्य तत् पित्र्ये भागधेयं प्रचक्षते ॥ २४६ ॥

uccheṣaṇāṃ bhūmigatamajihmasyāśaṭhasya ca |
dāsavargasya tat pitrye bhāgadheyaṃ pracakṣate || 246 ||

At the rite in honour of the Pitṛs, the remnant fallen on the ground is regarded as the share of straightforward, dutiful servants.—(246)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The preceding verse has described the disposal of the remnant in the dishes; the present verse mentions the fact that the remnant fallen on the ground is for servants.

‘Ajihma’ means ‘not dishonest,’ ‘straightforward.’

‘Aśaṭha’ is ‘not idle,’ ‘dutiful.’

Of such servants the said remnant is the share.

For this reason, large quantities of food shall be served, so that, when the invited person is eating, something may fall on the ground.—(246)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Mitākṣarā (on 1.239) in support of the view that ‘the food served to the Brāhmaṇas should be served in sufficiently large quantities, to make it possible for there being leavings, which constitute the share of the servants and others;—in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 376), without any comment;—in Nirṇayasindhu (p. 325);—in Aparārka (p. 504), which adds that what has been left fallen on the ground by the Brāhmaṇas should be offered for such honest and hard working slaves as may have died;—in Hemādri (Śrāddha, pp. 151 and 1511), which adds that dāsavarga here stands for the father’s principal servant who may be dead;—and in Gadādharapaddhati (Kāla, p. 562).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (81.23).—[Reproduces Manu.]

Vaśiṣṭha (1?.21).—‘The remnant of food fallen on the ground, or scattered, as also the smearings and water,—should be offered as food for those who may have died young, or for children.’