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:

भक्ष्यभोज्यापहरणे यानशय्याऽऽसनस्य च ।
पुष्पमूलफलानां च पञ्चगव्यं विशोधनम् ॥ १६५ ॥

bhakṣyabhojyāpaharaṇe yānaśayyā''sanasya ca |
puṣpamūlaphalānāṃ ca pañcagavyaṃ viśodhanam || 165 ||

For the stealing of eatables and edibles, of a conveyance or a bed, or a seat, or of fruits, roots and flowers,—the expiation consists of the Five Products of the cow.—(165)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

Conveyance’—the cart and such things.

Bed’—the bedstead, and so forth.

Seat’—the mat, the stool, or wooden slab.

Eatables and edibles.’—The distinction between the two should be understood to be this that while one stands for what is dry and scattered, the other stands for the reverse;—‘eatables`’ standing for such things as sweetmeats, cakes and the like and ‘edibles’ for barley-gruel and such things.

Five Products of the Cow’—These are well-known.

Here also what is mentioned should be eaten for one day only.—(165)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Mitākṣarā (3.265), as referring to cases where the quantity of food stolen is just enough for one meal;—and in Madanapārijāta (p. 875), which has the same note, and adds that, in as much as the ‘conveyance’ and other things have been mentioned in the same context, these also should he understood to be of just that value which would be equivalent to the value of a single meal.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (52.8).—‘For stealing sweet-meats, food, drinks, a bed, a seat, flowers, roots or fruits, the drinking of the five bovine products has been ordained.’

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: