Verse 4.130

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

देवतानां गुरो राज्ञः स्नातकाचार्ययोस्तथा ।
नाक्रामेत् कामतश्छायां बभ्रुणो दीक्षितस्य च ॥ १३० ॥

devatānāṃ guro rājñaḥ snātakācāryayostathā |
nākrāmet kāmataścāyāṃ babhruṇo dīkṣitasya ca || 130 ||

He shall not intentionally step over the shadow of the gods, of a superior, of the king, of an Accomplished Student, of his own Preceptor, of the tawny thing, or of the Initiated Person.—(130)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Gods’ here stands for Images; as these alone can cast shadows.

‘Superior’—i.e., his father.

‘Preceptor’—one who has performed for him the Initiatory Ceremony.

These two have been mentioned separately, with a view to show that this additional respect is to be shown to the two persons concerned, not simply because they are to be treated as ‘superiors,’ [but because they are, by their distinctive character, entitled to this additional form of respect].

Hence, what is here prescribed does not apply to the maternal uncle and such other persons.

Some people assert that “such a view would be contrary to usage; hence the separate mention of the two (‘superior’ and ‘preceptor’) has to be explained as anologous to such expressions as ‘(gobalīvarda,’ ‘bovine bull’ (where the tautology indicates some sort of distinctive superiority).

‘Tawny’ is the reddish brown colour; it stands here for a substance possessed of that colour; in the present context it stands for either the tawny cow or the Soma-creeper; the term ‘babhru’ (‘tawny’) being found in the Veda to be applied to both these things.

‘intentionally.’—This means that if it is done unintentionally, there is no wrong done.—(130)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Babhruṇaḥ’—‘Either the tawny cow or the Soma-creeper’ (Medhātithi);—‘the tawny’ (Kullūka);—‘tawny cow’ (Nandana);—‘a brown creature’ (Nārāyaṇa).

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 193), which explains ‘babhru’ as ‘a tawny animal, such as the cow and the like’;—in Mitākṣarā (on 1.152), which explains ‘babhru’ as ‘the cow or any other animal which is of the colour of the mongoose’ or ‘the Soma and other such creepers’;—in Madanapārijāta (p. 120), which explains ‘babhru’ simply as ‘kapila’, ‘tawny’;—in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 523);—in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 575), which also explains ‘babhru’ simply as ‘kapilaḥ’;—in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Saṃskāra, p. 88a);—and in Smṛtisāroddhāra (p. 321), which explains ‘babhru’ as ‘of the colour of the mongoose.’

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (63.40).—‘He shall not step over the shadow of the god, the Brāhmaṇa, the teacher, the tawny cow and the initiated person.’

Yājñavalkya (1.152).—‘He shall not step over the shadow of a deity, a priest, an accomplished student, the teacher, the king, and another man’s wife;—nor over urine, excreta or spittings or vomits.’

Yama (Aparārka, p. 193).—‘He shall not intentionally step over the shadow of a deity, the twice-born, the teacher, the wise man, the accomplished student, the preceptor and the minister; also of the tawny cow;—nor should he allow his own shadow to be stepped over by a eunuch or an outcast or a Caṇḍāla, or his enemies, or by a diseased person.’