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:

इष्टिं वैश्वानरीं नित्यं निर्वपेदब्दपर्यये ।
कॢप्तानां पशुसोमानां निष्कृत्यर्थमसम्भवे ॥ २७ ॥

iṣṭiṃ vaiśvānarīṃ nityaṃ nirvapedabdaparyaye |
kḷptānāṃ paśusomānāṃ niṣkṛtyarthamasambhave || 27 ||

In the event of the impossibility of the performance of the prescribed Animal and Soma sacrifices, one shall always offer the Vaiśvānarī sacrifice at the change of the year,—in expiation thereof.—(27)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The actual form of Vaiśvānarī sacrifice should be learnt from the Gṛhyasūtras.

Change of year’—when one year ends and another begins.

Prescribed’—enjoined.

Animal and Soma sacrifices’—the compulsory ones. The six-monthly and yearly ‘Animal sacrifices’ are compulsory, as also the ‘Soma sacrifice’ every spring.

In the event of the impossibility of the performance’—of these, on account of the absence of the requisite wealth;—‘in expiation thereof.’—for the removal of the sin incurred by the omission of a compulsory rite.

In connection with the occasion here referred to, the Veda lays down other expiatory rites; and some people would combine these with what is here prescribed; their point being that, even though both the rites serve the same purpose, yet they are found to be laid down by two distinct authorities.

This however is not right; because in connection with the expiatory rites for the slaying of a Brāhmaṇa, our Author is going to declare, in so many words, that between the rite laid down in the Veda and that prescribed in the Smṛti, there should be option:—‘He may perform the Abhijit or the Viśvajit’ (11.75).—(27)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Aparārka (p. 167);—in Mitākṣarā (3.265), which explains ‘abdaparyaye’ as ‘at the end of the year’;—and in Prayāścittaviveka (p. 393).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Mahābhārata (12.165.15).—(Same as Manu).

Viṣṇu (59.10).—‘If he has not wealth sufficient to defray the expenses of the Soma and other sacrifices, he shall perform the Vaiśvānarī sacrifice.’

Yājñavalkya (1.125-126).—‘The Twice-born man should perform, every year, the Soma-sacrifice,—the Paśu-sacrifice, at every solstice,—also the Āgrāyaṇeṣṭi and the Cāturmasya sacrifices.—If it be impossible for him to do all this, he should perform the Vaiśvānarī sacrifice.’

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