Verse 10.57 [Men of Impure Origin: their Characteristics]

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

वर्णापेतमविज्ञातं नरं कलुषयोनिजम् ।
आर्यरूपमिवानार्यं कर्मभिः स्वैर्विभावयेत् ॥ ५७ ॥

varṇāpetamavijñātaṃ naraṃ kaluṣayonijam |
āryarūpamivānāryaṃ karmabhiḥ svairvibhāvayet || 57 ||

The man of impure origin, who is devoid of caste, unknown, a non-Aryan, even though having the appearance of an Aryan,—one shall discover by his acts.—(57)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Devoid of caste’—fallen off from the four castes.

‘Unknown’—i.e., there being doubts regarding his parentage, known to be born illegitimately.

‘By acts’—going to be described,—as also by the distinctive features of their character,—they shall be recognised. That is, if a man is found to be addicted to wicked acts, and of cruel disposition, and if his parentage is doubtful, it should be concluded that he is of low birth, born illegitimately.—(57)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 10.57-61)

Vaśiṣṭha (18.7).—‘They quote the following—“One may know by their deeds those who have been begotten secretly, and to whom the stigma of springing from unions in the inverse order of the caste attaches, because they are destitute of virtue and good conduct.”’

Viṣṇu (16.17).—‘All members of the mixed castes may be found out by their deeds, whether their descent has been kept secret or is generally known.’

Mahābhārata (13.48.41-44).—‘The purity of one’s birth can be found out from his deeds (then the same as Manu 58 and 59).’