Verse 12.93

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

एतद् हि जन्मसाफल्यं ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः ।
प्राप्यैतत् कृतकृत्यो हि द्विजो भवति नान्यथा ॥ ९३ ॥

etad hi janmasāphalyaṃ brāhmaṇasya viśeṣataḥ |
prāpyaitat kṛtakṛtyo hi dvijo bhavati nānyathā || 93 ||

This represents the fulfilment of the object of one’s existence, specially for the Brāhmaṇa; it is only when he has attained this, and not otherwise, that the twice-born man has accomplished his purpose.—(93)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘The twice-born.’—This implies that the Kṣatriya and the Vaiśya also are entitled to the knowledge of Self; as has been made clear by Vedic texts of the Āraṇyakas.

‘Specially for the Brāhmaṇa.’—This has to be taken as referring particularly to the ‘Study of the Veda’; since to the ‘Knowledge of Self’ are twice-born persons equally entitled.

Having attained this ‘knowledge of the Self’ the man ‘has accomplished his purpose’;—that is, all his ends are fulfilled; there being no higher end than Liberation.

“What has been said regarding the necessity of looking on all things as the One Self appears to be contrary to perceptible facts. What we perceive directly is diversiy (diversity?). How can this be perceived as one? Any teaching regarding this would be setting forth a purpose that cannot be fulfilled. What is diverse, how can that be looked upon as one? The ass can never be looked upon as the cow. It is only when the perceiving organ is deranged that one perceives a thing as what it is not,—as we find when the shell is mistaken for silver; and certainly no such wrong conception forms the subject of a teaching. One who could propound such a teaching would be looked upon as most foolish, and his words would bear no fruit at all”

It is in view of this that we have the next verse.—(93)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Kṛtakṛtyaḥ ‘All whose ends have been accomplished’ (Medhātithi);—who has done all he ought to do’ (Govindarāja).

Other Dharmashastra Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Verse 12.93’. Further sources in the context of Dharmashastra might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Study of the Veda, Twice-born man, Knowledge of Self.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Diversity, Fulfilment of the object, Special reference, Explanatory note.