Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi

by Ganganatha Jha | 1920 | 1,381,940 words | ISBN-10: 8120811550 | ISBN-13: 9788120811553

This is the English translation of the Manusmriti, which is a collection of Sanskrit verses dealing with ‘Dharma’, a collective name for human purpose, their duties and the law. Various topics will be dealt with, but this volume of the series includes 12 discourses (adhyaya). The commentary on this text by Medhatithi elaborately explains various t...

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

यत् किं चिन् मधुना मिश्रं प्रदद्यात् तु त्रयोदशीम् ।
तदप्यक्षयमेव स्याद् वर्षासु च मघासु च ॥ २७३ ॥

yat kiṃ cin madhunā miśraṃ pradadyāt tu trayodaśīm |
tadapyakṣayameva syād varṣāsu ca maghāsu ca || 273 ||

Whatever thing, mixed with honey, one might offer on the thirteenth day of the month, during the rains, under the asterism of Maghā,—that also would be imperishable.—(273)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Whatever’—food—‘mixed with honey;’—‘on the thirteenth day, during the rains, and under the asterism of Maghā,’—‘that is imperishable,’ The season, the asterism and the date are to be taken together as the desired qualification.

According to the declaration of Āpastamba, the same holds good regarding offerings made during the rains, on the thirteenth, eighth and tenth days of the month also. As regards the asterism of Maghā, however, there is no option; as he says—‘there is abundance under the asterism of Maghā,’ (Āpastamba, 2.8.19-20).—(273)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

“The day meant is Bhādrapada, Badi, 13”—Buhler.

This verse is quoted in Smṛtitattva (p. 117) without comment;—in Aparārka (p. 555), which adds that the Accusative ending in ‘trayodaśīm’ has the force of the Locative;—in Hemādri (Śrāddha, p. 201);—in Śrāddhakriyākaumudī (p. 272), which explains the meaning as ‘whatever mixed with Honey is offered on the thirteenth of the month, under the asterism of Maghā becomes inexhaustible’;—in Puruṣārthacintāmaṇi (p. 385);—in Varṣakriyākaumudī (p. 356);—and in Hemādri (Kāla, p. 470 and Śrāddha, p. 87).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (13.88.15).—‘Water, roots, fruits, meat, and grains—whatsoever is mixed with honey and offered during Pitṛpakṣa, is conducive to imperishability.’

Yājñavalkya (1.260).—‘During the rains, on the thirteenth day of the month, and during the asterism of Maghā.’

Pitṛgāthā (Aparārka, p. 555).—‘May some one be born in our family who may offer rice cooked in milk mixed with honey and butter, during the rains, on the thirteenth day of the month and during the asterism of Maghā.’

Vaśiṣṭha (Do.).—‘The ancestors rejoice at the birth of a son in the hope that he would offer Śrāddha to them with honey, meat, vegetables, milk and rice cooked in milk.’

Paiṭhīnasi (Aparārka, p. 555).—‘A son or a grandson may offer to us Śrāddha with a red goat during the rains, during the asterism of Maghā, on the thirteenth day of the month.’

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