Verse 9.84

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

प्रतिषिद्धाऽपि चेद् या तु मद्यमभ्युदयेष्वपि ।
प्रेक्षासमाजं गच्छेद् वा सा दण्ड्या कृष्णलानि षट् ॥ ८४ ॥

pratiṣiddhā'pi ced yā tu madyamabhyudayeṣvapi |
prekṣāsamājaṃ gacched vā sā daṇḍyā kṛṣṇalāni ṣaṭ || 84 ||

If the wife, though forbidden, drinks wine even at festivals or visits, shows and assemblies, she shall be fined six ‘Kṛṣṇalas’.—(84)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Forbidden’,—by elders and relations.

The fine here prescribed is for the woman belonging to the Kṣatriya and other lower castes; and not for the

Brāhmaṇa woman, who cannot be let off by the small fine here prescribed; in her case the fine shall be a heavy one. Further, there is no chance of the latter partaking of wine at festivals. It is only the former class of women for whom wine-drinking is not entirely prohibited, who are found to give themselves to much drinking, when they come together on festive occasions; and it is in view of this that they are forbidden.

This fine is to be inflicted by the husband. Even though the inflicting of punishments in the duty of the king, yet, inasmuch as the husband is the ‘lord’ of his wife, he is regarded as competent to inflict the fine; specially as it is found that people are considered free to inflict fines upon servants and other dependents, in certain cases.

‘Festivals’—rejoicings in connection with the birth of a son, marriages and the like.

‘Shows’—theatrical and other spetacles (spectacles?).

‘Assemblies’—large crowds of men.

This fine is to be imposed upon the woman who evinces anxiety to visit these.—(84)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 437).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 9.77-84)

See Comparative notes for Verse 9.77.