Verse 11.140

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

अस्थिमतां तु सत्त्वानां सहस्रस्य प्रमापणे ।
पूर्णे चानस्यनस्थ्नां तु शूद्रहत्याव्रतं चरेत् ॥ १४० ॥

asthimatāṃ tu sattvānāṃ sahasrasya pramāpaṇe |
pūrṇe cānasyanasthnāṃ tu śūdrahatyāvrataṃ caret || 140 ||

If one kills one thousand animals ‘with bones,’ or a full cart-load of boneless ones, he shall perform the penance for the killing of a Śūdra.—(140)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘With bones.’—This denotes the smallness of the body; as is clear from its being mentioned along with ‘boneless animals.’

‘Anas’ is cart, which stands here as a measure.

Though this expiation has been laid down here, yet, something else also has got to be done, as laid down in the next versa—(140)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Prāyaś chitta, p. 66);—and in Prāyaścittaviveka (p. 241), which explains the meaning to be that for the unintentional killing of 1,000 insects with bones, or a cartful of boneless insects, one should perform the ‘six-montly penance’, which Manu has prescribed in connection with the killing of a Śūdra; if it is done intentionally, then the ‘one year penance’ is to be performed.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 11.140-141)

Viṣṇu (50.46-47).—‘If he has killed a thousand small animals having hones,—or an ox-load of boneless animals,—he must perform the same penance as for killing a Śūdra. But if he has killed animals having bones, he must also give some trifle to a Brāhmaṇa; if he has killed boneless animals, he becomes purified by one breath-suspension.’

Gautama (22.20-2).—‘For killing one thousand small animals with bones, also for killing an ox-load of boneless animals, the same penance as for killing a cow; or he may also give something for the killing of each animal with bones.’

Āpastamba (1.26.2).—‘For killing an ox-load of boneless animals, the same penance as for killing a Śūdra.

Vaśiṣṭha (21-25).—‘Having slain a quantity of boneless animals, equal to the weight of a cow, one should perform the Kṛcchra penance of twelve days’ duration, and also give something.’

Yājñavalkya (3.269, 275).—‘For killing a thousand animals with bones, or a cart-load of boneless animals, one should perform the same penance as for killing a Śūdra. For killing an animal with bones, he shall give something; and for killing a boneless animal, he shall perform breath-suspension.’