Verse 4.58

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

अग्न्यगारे गवां गोष्ठे ब्राह्मणानां च संनिधौ ।
स्वाध्याये भोजने चैव दक्षिणं पाणिमुद्धरेत् ॥ ५८ ॥

agnyagāre gavāṃ goṣṭhe brāhmaṇānāṃ ca saṃnidhau |
svādhyāye bhojane caiva dakṣiṇaṃ pāṇimuddharet || 58 ||

In the abode of fire, in the cow-pen, in the presence of Brāhmaṇas, during the reading of Vedas, at the time of eating, he shall uncover his right hand.—(58).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The term ‘goṣṭha,’ ‘pen’ signifies the dwelling-place; and it is a different word from the compound [ go + sthā, which means an abode of cows, and with which, therefore, the word ‘gavām,’ ‘of cows,’ would be superfluous].

‘Brāhmaṇas.’—Significance is meant to be attached to the plural number. [What is prescribed is to be done only when there are many Brāhmaṇas present].

‘Hand’ stands for the arm.

‘Eating.’—When he himself is eating.—(58).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Paribhāṣā, p. 90), which explains ‘gavām goṣṭhe’ as ‘goviśisṭe goṣṭhe’,—and ‘dakṣiṇam etc.’ as ‘he should place the upper cloth on his left shoulder and keep the right one outside the cloth’;—and in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 71).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Baudhāyana (2.3.58).—[Reproduces Manu, reading ‘madhye’ for ‘goṣṭhe’].

Viṣṇu (71.60).—‘He shall raise his right arm in the presence of fire, gods and Brāhmaṇas.’

Āpastamba (Vīramitrodaya-Paribhāṣā, p. 90).—‘In a temple, at Śrāddhas, in cow-pens, at sacrifices, near Brāhmaṇas, during the twilights, at meeting saintly men, in the fire-house, at marriages, during Vedic-study, during meals, one shall raise the right arm.’

Mahābhārata (12.193.20).—[Same as Manu, the first line being read as ‘Devāgāre gavūm madhye brāhmaṇānām kriyāpathe.’]