Verse 7.110

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

यथोद्धरति निर्दाता कक्षं धान्यं च रक्षति ।
तथा रक्षेन्नृपो राष्ट्रं हन्याच्च परिपन्थिनः ॥ ११० ॥

yathoddharati nirdātā kakṣaṃ dhānyaṃ ca rakṣati |
tathā rakṣennṛpo rāṣṭraṃ hanyācca paripanthinaḥ || 110 ||

Just as the weeder plucks out the weed and preserves the corn, so shall the King preserve his kingdom and destroy his opponents.—(110)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

When certain persons plot against the King, the friends and relations of such persons, as also those that seek to enter into relationship with them, should not all be ruined,—if they are not in the secret of their machinations; those alone shall be proceeded against who are actually wicked, and not his relations; this is what is shown by means of the instance of the ‘weeder.’

Though the corn and the weed grow together and are in dose touch with one another, yet the weeder cleverly preserves the corn and plucks out the weeds; in the same manner from among the plotters and their friends; those alone should be punished who have actually committed the offence, and not those who are only related to them. Thus with due discrimination between the good and the wicked, the former shall be preserved and the latter punished.—(110)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Rājanīti, p. 253) which explains ‘nirdātā’ as ‘he who weeds out grass and other things growing in a cultivated field,’—and ‘Kakṣam’ as ‘weeds.’

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 7.110-113)

Bṛhaspati (Vīramitrodaya-Rājanīti, p. 253).—‘Having established his sovereignty over the land, and having set up fortifications according to law, he shall employ all his strength in the removing of dangerous elements.’

Yājñavalkya (1.334).—‘He shall protect the people from dangers arising from back-biters, thieves, wicked persons, and desperate criminals, and specially from Kāyasthas.’

Matsya-purāṇa (Vīramitrodaya-Rājanīti, p. 253).—‘In protecting his kingdom king shall see to it that the people do not become impoverished. If the king, through folly or carelessness, allows his kingdom to become impoverished, he very soon falls off, not only from the kingdom, hut also from life itself.’

Yājñavalkya (1.338-339).—‘If the king increases the wealth by means of illegal exactions from the kingdom, he quickly loses his prosperity and becomes ruined.’

Kātyāyana (Vīramitrodaya-Rājanīti, p. 254).—‘Protecting the people, removing of dangerous elements and honouring the twice-born—for these purposes has the king been created.’