Verse 4.153-155

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

दैवतान्यभिगच्छेत् तु धार्मिकांश्च द्विजोत्तमान् ।
ईश्वरं चैव रक्षार्थं गुरूनेव च पर्वसु ॥ १५३ ॥
अभिवादयेद् वृद्धांश्च दद्याच्चैवासनं स्वकम् ।
कृताञ्जलिरुपासीत गच्छतः पृष्ठतोऽन्वियात् ॥ १५४ ॥
श्रुतिस्मृत्योदितं सम्यङ्निबद्धं स्वेषु कर्मसु ।
धर्ममूलं निषेवेत सदाचारमतन्द्रितः ॥ १५५ ॥

daivatānyabhigacchet tu dhārmikāṃśca dvijottamān |
īśvaraṃ caiva rakṣārthaṃ gurūneva ca parvasu || 153 ||
abhivādayed vṛddhāṃśca dadyāccaivāsanaṃ svakam |
kṛtāñjalirupāsīta gacchataḥ pṛṣṭhato'nviyāt || 154 ||
śrutismṛtyoditaṃ samyaṅnibaddhaṃ sveṣu karmasu |
dharmamūlaṃ niṣeveta sadācāramatandritaḥ || 155 ||

On the Parvas he should go to the gods, and to the righteous Brāhmaṇas, to the King for protection, and also to the superiors.—(153)

He shall salute the elders and give up his own seat to them; he shall wait upon them with joined hands; and when they depart, he shall follow behind them.—(154).

He shall, in his action, diligently attend to right conduct which is the root of Righteousness ordained in the Śruti and Smṛti.—(155)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

[Medhātithi bus nothing to say on these verses, 153-155.]

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

(verse 153)

This verse has not been commented upon by Medhātithi.

It is quoted in Aparārka (p. 127);—and in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 149), which explains ‘abhigacchet’ as ‘should approach, with a view to worshipping’; and adds that the emphasising ‘eva’ should be construed alter ‘abhigacchet’.

(verse 154)

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 149)

(verse 155)

This verse is quoted in Madanapārijāta (p. 12), which adds that ‘ācāra’ here spoken of is to be learnt from the people of the ‘Madhyadeśa’ and other countries mentioned in Discourse I.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verse 153)

Gautama (9.63-64).—‘For his welfare and protection he shall go over to the king,—not to any one else, except the gods, elders and righteous persons.’

Āpastamba (1.6.7).—‘Appearing before him, and receiving him as befits his age, he shall offer him a seat.’

Yājñavalkya (1.100).—‘For the sake of his welfare and protection he shall approach the king.’

(verse 154)

Āpastamba (1.6.7).—(See above.)

yājñavalkya (1.2.26).—‘Then he shall salute the elder, saying “Here I am.”.’

Mahābhārata (Anuśāsana, 161.70).—[The same as Manu, reading ‘abhivādayīta.’ for ‘abhivādayet,’ ‘svayani’ for ‘svakam’ and ‘gacchantam’ for ‘gacchataḥ.’]

(verse 155)

Viṣṇu (71.90).—‘Intent on righteousness and with senses under control, he shall have recourse to that conduct which has been ordained in the Śruti and the Smṛti and which is followed by the good.’

Yājñavalkya (1.154).—‘He shall always have recourse to that conduct which has been ordained in the Śruti and the Smṛti.’