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:

नामजातिग्रहं त्वेषामभिद्रोहेण कुर्वतः ।
निक्षेप्योऽयोमयः शङ्कुर्ज्वलन्नास्ये दशाङ्गुलः ॥ २७१ ॥

nāmajātigrahaṃ tveṣāmabhidroheṇa kurvataḥ |
nikṣepyo'yomayaḥ śaṅkurjvalannāsye daśāṅgulaḥ || 271 ||

If he mentions the name and caste of these men with scorn, a burning iron nail ten inches long shall be thrust into his mouth.—(271)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Scorn’—is disrespect, a feeling of disdain.

The words being in some such form as—‘O wretched Brāhmaṇa, do not touch me’; and so forth.

Similarly with the name also.

Mention’ means uttering the names without the proper honorific title, or accompanied by an affix signifying ‘disdain’—(‘Oh you Devadattaka’).

Or ‘abhidroha’ may mean anger.

Should be thrust’—thrown in.

Nail’—wedge.

Burning’—flaming with fire.

Iron’—made of iron.—(271)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 153), which adds the following notes:—‘Abhidroheṇa’, in an extremely insulting manner,—‘ayomayaḥ’, made of iron,—‘śaṅkuḥ’, nail.

It is quoted in Aparārka (p. 809), which says that this is meant for very frequently repeated offence.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (5.25).—‘If a low-born man revilingly mentions the name or caste of a superior,—an iron pin, ten inches long, shall be thrust into his mouth.’

Nārada (15-16.23).—‘If the Śūdra refers to the name or caste of a superior caste in terms indicating contempt, an iron-rod, ten inches long, shall be thrust red-hot into his mouth.’

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