Verse 5.166

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

भार्यायै पूर्वमारिण्यै दत्त्वाऽग्नीनन्त्यकर्मणि ।
पुनर्दारक्रियां कुर्यात् पुनराधानमेव च ॥ १६६ ॥

bhāryāyai pūrvamāriṇyai dattvā'gnīnantyakarmaṇi |
punardārakriyāṃ kuryāt punarādhānameva ca || 166 ||

Having, during the last rites, given away the sacred fires to his wife who died before him, he may marry again and kindle the fires again.—(166).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The present verse is added with a view to indicate the man’s title to another marriage; i.e., an exception in favour of his wedding another wife; and it also serves to prohibit the man forthwith taking to the life of the Recluse or the Renunciate, as soon as he finds himself deprived of his help-mate and this because he has still got to fulfil certain duties. Says the Śruti—‘He is abandoned by old age, or by the omission of his duties.’

Others say that a ‘yadā’, ‘when’, should be supplied in this verse; so that there would be no incompatibility between this end the Śruti laying down life-long Āgnihotra.—(166).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

(Verse 168 of others.)

This verse is quoted in Nirṇayasindhu (p. 413) to the effect that if a man with the Fire loses his wife and wishes to marry another, he should cremate his dead wife with the Fire that he had set up with her help;—and in Saṃskāraratnamālā (p. 591).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 5.165-166)

See Comparative notes for Verse 5.165.