Upalakshana in Manubhasya 3.5

[Full title: Mimamsa technical terms (8) Upalakshana (3) References in Manubhasya verse 3.5]

Passage- tatha canuvartyamanah sapinda sabdah purvavadbandhusambandhopalaksanarthah | tena pitrsvasuranvayastrinamanyasa ca prapitamahasantati strinama saptama- tpurusapratisedhah siddho bhavati | (medhatithi on Ms I-5) Translation In the present verse also the term 'not of the same gotra' means 'who is not a sapinda' and just as the term 'sapinda' in the preceding phrase, so the same term here also, would be taken as standing for relations and in this way we secure the exclusion of girls descended from the father's sister, as also of other girls descended from one's great grand-father, up to seventh step. And it is only persons upto the seventh step of relationship that have been called 'Sapinda'. Explanation While discussing the topic of a lady who is fit to be married and particularly a lady who should be beyond the degrees of 'Sapindya' the Manu Smriti III.5 laid down a rule. *A (demsel) who is neither a sapinda on the mother's side, nor belongs to the same family on the father's side is recommended to twice born men for wedlock conjugal union. " While commenting on the expression 'Sapinda' in the above stanza, 1. asapinda ca ya maturasagotra ca ya pituh | sa prasamsta dvijatinam darakarmapyamaithuni || 3 .50 Ms Vol II - P-12

1 590 Here one may quote a stanza from 'Yajny valkya-smrti' (153-B). This means the degree of 'Sapinda' persons upto the 5 degrees on the side of mother and seven degree upto the side of a father. If this rule is born in mind then one is not competant to marry a lady who falls within the 5 degrees on the side of a mother and within seven degrees on the side of a father. Here it may be added Medhatithi echoed the view point of 'Yasa' in interpreting the expression 'Sapinda' in the text of Manu. Other commentators of Manu are pass over on this point in silence and without introducing the technical term 'Upalaksana in the commentary on Manusmrti. 1. pamcama sapramadurdhvam matrtah pintrtastatha | Yajny valkya Smrti 352448 I-53 B Page No 17 (Mirnaya Sagar edition)