Verse 8.311

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

निग्रहेण हि पापानां साधूनां सङ्ग्रहेण च ।
द्विजातय इवैज्याभिः पूयन्ते सततं नृपाः ॥ ३११ ॥

nigraheṇa hi pāpānāṃ sādhūnāṃ saṅgraheṇa ca |
dvijātaya ivaijyābhiḥ pūyante satataṃ nṛpāḥ || 311 ||

For by suppressing the vicious and postering the virtuous, kings become purified, just as twice-born men by the daily sacrifices.—(311)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Persons full of vice are called ‘vicious’; of these there should be ‘suppressing’ in the manner described above.

Those who behave in accordance with the scriptures are called the ‘virtuous’;—of these there should be ‘fostering,’ i.e., favourable treatment to the best of one’s ability.

By this ‘kings become purified’— freed from sins—as if by the performance of expiatory rites.

This is only a commendatory declaration.

Or, being ‘purified’ may be taken as consisting in the non-incurring of sin.

Just as Brāhmaṇas are ‘purified’ by the ‘daily sacrifices’—the daily performance of the five Great Sacrifices.—(311)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 618), which explains ‘pāpāḥ’ as sinners,—and ‘Sādhavaḥ’ as ‘persons acting in accordance with the scriptures.’

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.310-311)

See Comparative notes for Verse 8.310.