Verse 9.333

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

धर्मेण च द्रव्यवृद्धावातिष्ठेद् यत्नमुत्तमम् ।
दद्याच्च सर्वभूतानामन्नमेव प्रयत्नतः ॥ ३३३ ॥

dharmeṇa ca dravyavṛddhāvātiṣṭhed yatnamuttamam |
dadyācca sarvabhūtānāmannameva prayatnataḥ || 333 ||

He shall put forth his best efforts towards increasing his property in a righteous manner; and he shall zealously give food to all beings.—(333)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

That is, be shall give away large quantities of food. Otherwise he should be punished by the King.

What is said here pertains to the Vaiśya who is possessed of much wealth.—(333)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Madanapārijāta (p. 227);—and in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 417).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 9.333-336)

Viṣṇupurāṇa (Parāśaramādhava-Ācāra, p. 419).—‘It is only through attending upon the twice-born that the Śūdra becomes entitled to perform the Pākayajñas; and thereby becoming blessed, he wins the worlds.—The Śūdra also shall make gifts, and perform the Pākayajña-sacrifices, as also the rites in honour of Pitṛs.’

Mahābhārata—Anuśāsana (Do.).—‘Finding the Śūdra oppressed with bad traits due to the quality of Tamas, Pitāmaha ordained attendance upon the twice-born as his duty. Through his devotion to the twice-born, the Śūdra drops off all those traits due to the quality of Tamas; and by attending upon the twice-born, the Śūdra attains the highest good.—Harmless, devoted to good deeds, worshipful towards gods and the twice-born, the Śūdra becomes endowed with all the rewards of Dharma.’

Mahābhārata—Śānti (Parāśaramādhava-Ācāra, p. 420).—‘The syllables svāhā and namaḥ are the mantras prescribed for the Śūdra; by means of these shall the Śūdra offer the Pākayajña-Sacrifices; he shall never amass wealth; having acquired wealth by service, he shall win the affection of his elders; and if he is righteously inclined, he may make gifts when permitted to do so by the King.’

Yājñavalkya (Do., p. 419).—‘Attached to his wife, pure, supporting his dependants, devoted to the performance of Śrāddhas, he should never omit to perform the Five Sacrifices by means of ths mantra namaḥ.’

Do. (Do., p. 422).—‘If he cannot make a living by service of the twice-born, the Śūdra may become a trader, or obtain a living by means of the arts, always acting for the welfare of the twice-born.’

Parāśara (Ācāra, 65).—‘The Śūdra may make a living by the sale of salt, honey, oil, curds, takra, clarified butter and milk.—But the Śūdra becomes immediately degraded by selling wine and flesh, by eating what should not he eaten, and by approaching women who should not be approached. The Śūdra falls immediately by drinking the milk of the Kapilā cow, by approaching a Brāhmaṇa woman and by pronouncing the words of the Veda.’