Verse 3.256

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

दर्भाः पवित्रं पूर्वाह्णो हविष्याणि च सर्वशः ।
पवित्रं यच्च पूर्वोक्तं विज्ञेया हव्यसम्पदः ॥ २५६ ॥

darbhāḥ pavitraṃ pūrvāhṇo haviṣyāṇi ca sarvaśaḥ |
pavitraṃ yacca pūrvoktaṃ vijñeyā havyasampadaḥ || 256 ||

Kuśa-Grass, the sanctificatory texts, the forenoon, all kinds of sacrificial food, purity and also the afore-mentioned these should be regarded as the essentials of a sacrifice.—(256)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Kuśa-grass’—is well-known.

‘Sanctificatory texts’—Mantras.

‘Sacrificial food’— articles of food fit for sacrifices; these are going to be described in the next verse.

‘Purity’—cleanliness of conduct.

‘And also the afore-mentioned’—i.e., what have been mentioned in the preceding verse, in the shape of ‘setting up of the dwelling, liberality, cleaning, superior Brāhmaṇas’ equipped with character and learning.

‘Essentials of a sacrifice’—‘Sacrifice’ consists in the act of offering to the gods and of feeding Brāhmaṇas in honour of the gods; the term ‘havya,’ ‘sacrifice,’ standing for what is done in honour of the gods.—(256)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Pavitram’—‘Purificatory texts’ (Medhātithi);—‘Means of purification’ (Nārāyaṇa).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Yama-Hārīta-Śātātapa (Do.).—[Reproduce Manu.]