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:

आदाननित्याच्चादातुराहरेदप्रयच्छतः ।
तथा यशोऽस्य प्रथते धर्मश्चैव प्रवर्धते ॥ १५ ॥

ādānanityāccādāturāharedaprayacchataḥ |
tathā yaśo'sya prathate dharmaścaiva pravardhate || 15 ||

He shall take it also from one who always acquires, and never gives, if he refuses to give up the thing; thus does his fame spread and merit increase.—(15)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

This verse applies to all castes.

Who always acquires’—who always goes on acquiring wealth by agriculture, by receiving gifts, by money-lending and so forth;—‘and never gives.’

If he refuses to give up the thing’— then other methods should be employed.

Who never gives’—may he taken to mean ‘who is of a miserly disposition.’—(15)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

Ādānanityāḥ’.—‘Men of all castes who constantly amass wealth’ (Medhātithi and Nārāyaṇa;);—‘Brāhmaṇas who always accept gifts’ (Kullūka, Govindarāja and Rāghavānanda).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (12.165.10).—‘The King shall openly take wealth from misers; thus alone can the duty of the King be duly performed.’

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: