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:

ये नियुक्तास्तु कार्येषु हन्युः कार्याणि कार्यिणाम् ।
धनौष्मणा पच्यमानास्तान्निःस्वान् कारयेन्नृपः ॥ २३१ ॥

ye niyuktāstu kāryeṣu hanyuḥ kāryāṇi kāryiṇām |
dhanauṣmaṇā pacyamānāstānniḥsvān kārayennṛpaḥ || 231 ||

If the officers deputed to look after the business of suitors should, fired by the heat of wealth, hamper that business,—these the King shall render penniless.—(231)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Those officers who have been ‘deputed’—appointed—‘to look after the business’— investigation of eases and so forth—‘of suitors’,—as representatives of the King;—if these, ‘fired by the heat of wealth’—i.e. having received bribes from either party—‘hamper that business’,—‘these the king shall render penniless’,—i.e. he shall confiscate all their property.

Though for the delinquency of officers a distinct punishment is going to be prescribed (in 234), yet what is here laid down refers to the case of repeated offences.

Other officers also—such as the commander of an army and the like—when ordered against a certain party, take bribes from him, and do not proceed to capture him;—these also shall be met with the same punishment.

Others read ‘aniyukta’ (for ‘niyukta’); and in that case the meaning is—‘If some persons though not appointed to any office, proceed to help one or the other party,—either on account of their considering themselves the king’s favourites, or of their being very rich,—and thus prevent justice bring done to the other party,—they shall be punished as here prescribed.’

In this case, the epithet ‘fired by the heat of wealth’ (i. e., bribed) would not have any significance; notappointed’ being the most significant qualification in this case.—(231)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (5.180).—‘The confiscation of the entire property is the punishment ordained for the judge who takes bribes.’

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: