Verse 11.166

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

तृणकाष्ठद्रुमाणां च शुष्कान्नस्य गुडस्य च ।
चेलचर्मामिषाणां च त्रिरात्रं स्यादभोजनम् ॥ १६६ ॥

tṛṇakāṣṭhadrumāṇāṃ ca śuṣkānnasya guḍasya ca |
celacarmāmiṣāṇāṃ ca trirātraṃ syādabhojanam || 166 ||

There should be fasting for three days, in the case of stealing grass, wood, trees, dry food, molasses, clothes, leather and meat.—(166)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The expiation here laid down is for the stealing of grass and other things, in such quantities, as would be more valuable than the ‘conveyance’ and other things mentioned in the preceding verse,

‘Wood’— hot made into any article. That this is what is meant follows from its occurring along with ‘trees.’

‘Druma’ is tree.

‘Dry food’—either rice, or fried barley.

‘Molasses.’— This stands for things made of molasses; so that sugarcandy and other sweetmeats become included.

‘Caila’ is cloth;—i.e., of large quantities of valuable cloth.

The expiation here laid down is an optional alternative to the Kṛcchra that would be necessary in accordance with what is laid down in Verse 163, where the stealing of ‘wealth’ (which includes cloth) has been dealt with.

‘Leather’ stands here for armour.

‘Māṃsa’—meat.—(166)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

 

This is quoted in Mitākṣarā (3.265), which adds that since the expiation here prescribed is thrice as heavy ns that prescribed in the proceeding verse, the ‘grass’ and other things mentioned here should be taken to be of that quantity which would be obtainable at a price three times that of the single meal.

It is quoted in Aparārka (p. 1110), which notes that this refers to the stealing of ‘grass’ and other things whose value is three times that of the single meal of one man;—in Madanapārijāta (p. 875);—and in Prāyaścittviveka (p. 345), which explains ‘Śuṣkānna’ as ‘rice &c.’, and adds that the ‘two days penance’ is for stealing grains sufficient for two meals, for stealing more than that, there should be heavier expiation.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Viṣṇu (52.9).—‘For stealing grass, firewood, trees, rice in the husk, sugar, clothes, skins, or flesh,—the thief must fast for three days.’