Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi

by Ganganatha Jha | 1920 | 1,381,940 words | ISBN-10: 8120811550 | ISBN-13: 9788120811553

This is the English translation of the Manusmriti, which is a collection of Sanskrit verses dealing with ‘Dharma’, a collective name for human purpose, their duties and the law. Various topics will be dealt with, but this volume of the series includes 12 discourses (adhyaya). The commentary on this text by Medhatithi elaborately explains various t...

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

समुद्रयानकुशला देशकालार्थदर्शिनः ।
स्थापयन्ति तु यां वृद्धिं सा तत्राधिगमं प्रति ॥ १५७ ॥

samudrayānakuśalā deśakālārthadarśinaḥ |
sthāpayanti tu yāṃ vṛddhiṃ sā tatrādhigamaṃ prati || 157 ||

As regards the exact amount to be paid, the interest shall be that which is fixed by persons expert in sea-voyages, and those capable of calculating the profits in connection with a particular place and time.—(157)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The present verso is an answer to the question—“In the case cited above, is there to be paid no interest at all? Or is it to be 5 per cent?”

Sea-voyage’ has been mentioned only by way of illustration; the sense is that whatever interest is fixed by traders who know all about journey by land and water, should be determined as the exact amount to be paid.

Those capable of calculating the profits in connection with a particular place and time,’—persons who know what amount of profit is to be made whore,—and not only those, pilots and others, who are expert in sea-voyages.

Others have explained the foregoing verses in the following manner, making gratuitous additions to its words:—The last verse (157) is in answer to the question.—“In a case where the debtor has entered into a contract on the strength of profits to be made at a particular place or time,—but on reaching that place, he does not make the profit that he had expected,—then what amount of interest should he pay?” And the mention of the term ‘cakravṛddhi’ (which, in this interpretation would not mean ‘wheel-interest,’ but ‘compound interest,’ which the debtor agrees to pay, on expectation of large profits) would include the ‘privately stipulated’ interest also. In such a case, the king shall decide as due that amount of interest which may be fixed by those tradesmen who know each other’s circumstances and the chances of profit and loss.

As regards the exact amount to be paid,’ ‘adhigamam prati,’—‘Prati’ is a proposition denoting ‘indication,’ and as such governs the Accusative in ‘adhigamam,’ according to Pāṇini 1.4.90.

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 11), which adds that the term ‘Samudrayānakuśalāḥ’ stands for all merchants;—‘deśakālārthadarśinaḥ,’ those who know that in such and such a country such and such profit is to be made;—‘adhigama’ is ‘decision’ i.e., ‘by that is the interest to be determined;’—and in Kṛtyakalpataru (68a), which has the following notes:—‘Samudrayānakuśalāḥ’ stands for tradesmen in general,—‘deśakālārthadarśinaḥ,’ one who knows what profit is obtained at what time,—‘adhigama’ is decision, finding.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.156-157)

See Comparative notes for Verse 8.156.

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