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:

अनादेयस्य चादानादादेयस्य च वर्जनात् ।
दौर्बल्यं ख्याप्यते राज्ञः स प्रेत्यैह च नश्यति ॥ १७१ ॥

anādeyasya cādānādādeyasya ca varjanāt |
daurbalyaṃ khyāpyate rājñaḥ sa pretyaiha ca naśyati || 171 ||

By the taking of what he ought not to take and by the relinquishing of what he ought to take the king’s weakness becomes proclaimed, and he becomes ruined here as also after death.—(171)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

What ought not to be taken’ is that which he is not entitled to receive; the verbal affix denoting title.

Weakness becomes proclaimed’—by his subjects, who say—‘This king punishes us, but he is unable to suppress thieves, robbers and recalcitrant tributary kings’; his enemies also assert their power; and being attacked by these, ho becomes disgusted with life and thus ‘becomes ruined here’—in this world—and by taking what he ought not to take—i.e., by imposing illegal fines, etc.—he ‘becomes ruined, after death’ also.—(171)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Rājanīti, p. 275).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.170-171)

See Comparative notes for Verse 8.170.

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