Verse 9.274

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

ग्रामघाते हिताभङ्गे पथि मोषाभिदर्शने ।
शक्तितो नाभिधावन्तो निर्वास्याः सपरिच्छदाः ॥ २७४ ॥

grāmaghāte hitābhaṅge pathi moṣābhidarśane |
śaktito nābhidhāvanto nirvāsyāḥ saparicchadāḥ || 274 ||

If people do not hasten to assist, to the best of their power, whenever a village is attacked, or a dyke is breaking, or a highway robbery is being committed,—they should be banished along with their chattels.—(274)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

If the men concerned are capable of rendering help, but desist, through laziness or some such cause,—they should be banished.

Those however who may have entered into some compact with the thieves, shall be put to death, as already laid down (under 269).

‘Chattels’— cows, horses and so forth All this also shall be sent away, and not confiscated. They should not be deprived of their cattle, though their wealth may be confiscated.—(274)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in ‘Aparārka’ (p. 850), which explains ‘hiḍabhaṅge’ (which is its reading for ‘hitābhaṅge’ as the destroying of crops in a field belonging to others;—in Vivādaratnākara (p. 341), which adds the following notes—‘Grāmaghāte’ during village disturbances;—‘hitabhaṅge’, the breaking of dams set up for the protection of crops;—‘moṣābhidarśana’, looking on theft being committed;—‘nivāṣyāḥ’, should be banished from the country;—‘saparichadāḥ’, along with their families and belongings;—and in Vyavahāra-Bālambhaṭṭī (p. 991).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

[See texts under 272.]

Viṣṇu (5.74)—‘The double punishment is likewise ordained for those who do not give assistance to one calling for help, though they happen to he on the spot, or who run away after having approached it.’

Nārada (Aparārka, p. 850).—‘When people are crying for help when some one is being forcibly carried away,—if one, on hearing the cry, does not go forward to help, he shall partake of the crime.’