Verse 8.341

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

द्विजोऽध्वगः क्षीणवृत्तिर्द्वाविक्षू द्वे च मूलके ।
आददानः परक्षेत्रात्न दण्डं दातुमर्हति ॥ ३४१ ॥

dvijo'dhvagaḥ kṣīṇavṛttirdvāvikṣū dve ca mūlake |
ādadānaḥ parakṣetrātna daṇḍaṃ dātumarhati || 341 ||

If a twice-born person, running short of provisions while on a journey, takes two sugar-cane stalks, or two roots, from another man’s field, he does not deserve to be made to pay a fine.—(341)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The text has used the term ‘twice-born person’ with a view to preclude Śūdras.

‘On a journey’—i.e., not an inhabitant of the same village;—hut there also he should be one ‘who has run short of provisions’—i.e., whose journey-rations have been exhausted.

‘Two sugar-cane stalks’ and ‘two roots’;—these are mentioned only by way of illustration, indicating small quantities of green vegetables, mudga -grains, leguminous grains and so forth. Says another Smṛti-text—‘There is no prohibition regarding leguminous grains, cucumber and grass.’

‘From another man’s field’—i.e., from a place belonging to another person;—even though it be within an enclosure.—(341)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Mitākṣara (2.275), to the effect that there is no punishment for way-farers stealing some little things on the way. Bālambhaṭṭī adds the following notes:—‘Adhvāga,’ way-farer,—‘kṣīṇavṛttiḥ,’ with his food-supply exhausted.

It is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Vyavahāra, p. 314);—in Vivādacintāmaṇi (p. 146), which explains ‘kṣīṇavṛttiḥ’ as having no food for the journey;—and in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 124).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

See Manu, 11.16-17.