Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तो भगवता धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु प्रत्युवाच तपोधनम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said This accosted by the holy Rishi, king Yudhishthira the just, having thought for a short time, said these words to the sage.
किं भक्ष्यं किमभक्ष्यं च किं च देयं प्रशस्यते किं च पात्रमपात्रं वा तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, what food is clean and what, unclean, what gift is praiseworthy, and who is the deserving, and who, undeserving (recipients of gifts).
व्यास उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् सिद्धानां चैव संवादं मनोश्चैव प्रजापतेः
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said “Regarding it is cited a old discourse between the ascetics and that lord of creation, viz., Manu.
सिद्धास्तपोव्रतपराः समागम्य पुरा विभुम् धर्मं पप्रच्छुरासीनमादिकाले प्रजापतिम्
AI Translation: The Siddhas, devoted to austerities and vows, having assembled in the past, asked Dharma, who was seated, in the beginning of time, to the Primordial Lord.
कथमन्नं कथं दानं कथमध्ययनं तपः कार्याकार्यं च नः सर्वं शंस वै त्वं प्रजापते
AI Translation: How is food? How is giving? How is study? How is austerity? Please tell us all about what should be done and what should not be done, O Prajapati.
तैरेवमुक्तो भगवान्मनुः स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत् शुश्रूषध्वं यथावृत्तं धर्मं व्याससमासतः
AI Translation: Thus addressed by them, the self-born Manu said: "Listen to the Dharma as it happened, in brief, according to Vyasa."
Supplementary Passages:
12.37.6 K5 V1 B D (except D1.4.7) ins. after 6: K4 after 7: *50 अनादेशे जपो होम उपवासस्तथैव च आत्मज्ञानं पुण्यनद्यो यत्र प्रायश्च तत्पराः अनादिष्टं तथैतानि पुण्यानि धरणीभृतः सुवर्णप्राशनमपि रत्नादिस्नानमेव च देवस्थानाभिगमनमाज्यप्राशनमेव च एतानि मेध्यं पुरुषं कुर्वन्त्याशु न संशयः न गर्वेण भवेत्प्राज्ञः कदाचिदपि मानवः दीर्घमायुरथेच्छन्हि त्रिरात्रं चोष्णपो भवेत्
अदत्तस्यानुपादानं दानमध्ययनं तपः अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधः क्षमेज्या धर्मलक्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Refusal to take what is not given, gift, study of sacred books, penance, abstention from injury, truth, freedom from anger, and adoration of the gods in sacrifices,-these are the marks of virtue.
य एव धर्मः सोऽधर्मोऽदेशेऽकाले प्रतिष्ठितः आदानमनृतं हिंसा धर्मो व्यावस्थिकः स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: Virtue again, according to time and place, becomes sin. Thus misappropriation of another's property, untruth, and injury and killing, may under special circumstances, become virtue.
द्विविधौ चाप्युभावेतौ धर्माधर्मौ विजानताम् अप्रवृत्तिः प्रवृत्तिश्च द्वैविध्यं लोकवेदयोः
AI Translation: And these two are of two kinds, known to those who know Dharma and Adharma. Non-activity and activity are the twofold nature of the world and the Vedas.
अप्रवृत्तेरमर्त्यत्वं मर्त्यत्वं कर्मणः फलम् अशुभस्याशुभं विद्याच्छुभस्य शुभमेव च
AI Translation: Non-activity is immortality; the result of action is mortality. Know that the good is the result of good, and the bad is the result of bad.
एतयोश्चोभयोः स्यातां शुभाशुभतया तथा दैवं च दैवयुक्तं च प्राणश्च प्रलयश्च ह
AI Translation: And of these two, both should be considered as auspicious and inauspicious. And destiny and destiny-related, and life and dissolution.
अप्रेक्षापूर्वकरणादशुभानां शुभं फलम् ऊर्ध्वं भवति संदेहादिह दृष्टार्थमेव वा अप्रेक्षापूर्वकरणात्प्रायश्चित्तं विधीयते
M. N. Dutt: Expiation has been laid down, for an act undertaken for the purpose of doing mischief (to some one) in the future, as well as for an act done whose consequence is apparently mischievous.
क्रोधमोहकृते चैव दृष्टान्तागमहेतुभिः शरीराणामुपक्लेशो मनसश्च प्रियाप्रिये तदौषधैश्च मन्त्रैश्च प्रायश्चित्तैश्च शाम्यति
M. N. Dutt: When an act is performed from wrath or misjudgment, then expiation should be performed by paining the body, guided by example by scriptures, and by reason. when any action, is performed for pleasing or displeasing the mind, the sin originating thereform may be cleansed by pure food and recitation of Mantras.
Supplementary Passages:
12.37.13 K4 V1 B Dn D1-3.5.6.8 ins. after 13: Da, after 12: *51 उपवासमेकरात्रं दण्डोत्सर्गे नराधिपः विशुध्येदात्मशुद्ध्यर्थं त्रिरात्रं तु पुरोहितः क्षयं शोकं प्रकुर्वाणो न म्रियेत यदा नरः शस्त्रादिभिरुपाविष्टास्त्रिरात्रं तत्र निर्दिशेत्
जातिश्रेण्यधिवासानां कुलधर्मांश्च सर्वतः वर्जयेन्न हि तं धर्मं येषां धर्मो न विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: There is no expiation for them who do not observe duties and practices of their order and caste, country, and family, and who forsake their own creed.
दश वा वेदशास्त्रज्ञास्त्रयो वा धर्मपाठकाः यद्ब्रूयुः कार्य उत्पन्ने स धर्मो धर्मसंशये
M. N. Dutt: When any doubt arises regarding what should be done, it should be settled by the injunction of the scriptures which ten persons versed in Vedic scriptures or three of those who frequently recite them may declare.
अरुणा मृत्तिका चैव तथा चैव पिपीलकाः श्लेष्मातकस्तथा विप्रैरभक्ष्यं विषमेव च
M. N. Dutt: The bull, earth, little ants, worms born in dirt, and poison, should not be eaten by Brahmanas.
अभक्ष्या ब्राह्मणैर्मत्स्याः शकलैर्ये विवर्जिताः चतुष्पात्कच्छपादन्यो मण्डूका जलजाश्च ये
M. N. Dutt: They should also abstain from eating fishes that have scales, and four-legged aquatic animals like frogs and others, except the tortoise.
भासा हंसाः सुपर्णाश्च चक्रवाका बकाः प्लवाः कङ्को मद्गुश्च गृध्राश्च काकोलूकं तथैव च
AI Translation: Swans, geese, seagulls, cranes, herons, cranes, cormorants, vultures, crows, owls,
क्रव्यादाः पक्षिणः सर्वे चतुष्पादाश्च दंष्ट्रिणः येषां चोभयतो दन्ताश्चतुर्दंष्ट्राश्च सर्वशः
AI Translation: All birds of prey, all quadrupeds with fangs, and those with teeth on both sides, all with four fangs,
एडकाश्वखरोष्ट्रीणां सूतिकानां गवामपि मानुषीणां मृगीणां च न पिबेद्ब्राह्मणः पयः
AI Translation: He should not drink the milk of a she-ass, a she-camel, a she-goat, a cow, or a woman, or of a doe.
प्रेतान्नं सूतिकान्नं च यच्च किंचिदनिर्दशम् अभोज्यं चाप्यपेयं च धेन्वा दुग्धमनिर्दशम्
M. N. Dutt: Besides this the good that has been offered to the departed manes, that which has been usurer cooked by a woman who has recently given birth to a child, and food cooked by a unknown person, should not be taken. The milk also of a cow that has recently calved should not be drunk.
Supplementary Passages:
12.37.21 After 21, K4.5 V1 B D (except D4; D7 om.) ins.: *52 राजान्नं तेज आदत्ते शूद्रान्नं ब्रह्मवर्चसम् आयुः सुवर्णकारान्नमवीरायाश्च योषितः विष्ठा वार्धुषिकस्यान्नं गणिकान्नमथेन्द्रियम् मृष्यन्ति ये चोपपतिं स्त्रीजितानां च सर्वशः दीक्षितस्य कदर्यस्य क्रतुविक्रयिकस्य च
तक्ष्णश्चर्मावकर्तुश्च पुंश्चल्या रजकस्य च चिकित्सकस्य यच्चान्नमभोज्यं रक्षिणस्तथा
AI Translation: The food of a butcher, a fletcher, a tanner, a prostitute, a washerman, and a physician, and that which is not eaten by the guards.
गणग्रामाभिशस्तानां रङ्गस्त्रीजीविनश्च ये परिवित्तिनपुंषां च बन्दिद्यूतविदां तथा
AI Translation: Those who are cursed by the village council, those who live by the women of the theater, and those who are eunuchs, hermaphrodites, and bards and gamblers,
वार्यमाणाहृतं चान्नं शुक्तं पर्युषितं च यत् सुरानुगतमुच्छिष्टमभोज्यं शेषितं च यत्
AI Translation: Food that is refused, or brought by someone who is not a Brahmin, or that is sour or stale, or that is touched by a dog, or that is left over after the gods have been fed, or that is left over after one has eaten, or that is left over after one has vomited,
पिष्टमांसेक्षुशाकानां विकाराः पयसस्तथा सक्तुधानाकरम्भाश्च नोपभोज्याश्चिरस्थिताः
AI Translation: The preparations of flour, meat, sugarcane, and vegetables, as well as of milk, And the cakes, barley, and coconuts, should not be eaten if they have been kept for a long time.
पायसं कृसरं मांसमपूपाश्च वृथा कृताः अभोज्याश्चाप्यभक्ष्याश्च ब्राह्मणैर्गृहमेधिभिः
AI Translation: Rice cooked in milk, curds, meat, cakes, and other things are prepared in vain. They are not to be eaten or consumed by householders.
देवान्पितॄन्मनुष्यांश्च मुनीन्गृह्याश्च देवताः पूजयित्वा ततः पश्चाद्गृहस्थो भोक्तुमर्हति
AI Translation: Having worshipped the gods, the ancestors, humans, sages, and the deities of the house, the householder is then worthy to eat.
यथा प्रव्रजितो भिक्षुर्गृहस्थः स्वगृहे वसेत् एवंवृत्तः प्रियैर्दारैः संवसन्धर्ममाप्नुयात्
AI Translation: Just as a monk who has renounced the world lives in his own house, So one who behaves like this, living with his beloved wife, attains the Dharma.
न दद्याद्यशसे दानं न भयान्नोपकारिणे न नृत्तगीतशीलेषु हासकेषु च धार्मिकः
AI Translation: One should not give to the shameless, out of fear, or to one who has done one good. The righteous one should not give to those who are addicted to dancing and singing, or to jesters.
न मत्ते नैव चोन्मत्ते न स्तेने न चिकित्सके न वाग्घीने विवर्णे वा नाङ्गहीने न वामने
AI Translation: Not to one who is intoxicated, nor to one who is insane, nor to a thief, nor to a physician, Not to one who is mute, nor to one who is disfigured, nor to one who is deficient in limbs, nor to one who is dwarfish,
न दुर्जने दौष्कुले वा व्रतैर्वा यो न संस्कृतः अश्रोत्रिये मृतं दानं ब्राह्मणेऽब्रह्मवादिनि
AI Translation: He who is not purified by vows, not in a good family, not in a good company, A gift to a non-listener, to a Brahmin who speaks unrighteously,
असम्यक्चैव यद्दत्तमसम्यक्च प्रतिग्रहः उभयोः स्यादनर्थाय दातुरादातुरेव च
M. N. Dutt: No gift should be made to a Brahmana who has no knowledge of the Vedas Gifts should be made to him only who is well read in the Vedas. An improper gift and an improper acceptance beget bad consequences to both the giver and the acceptor.
यथा खदिरमालम्ब्य शिलां वाप्यर्णवं तरन् मज्जते मज्जते तद्वद्दाता यश्च प्रतीच्छकः
M. N. Dutt: As a person who tries to cross the sea with the help of a rock or a mass of catechu sinks with the supports, so the improper giver and the acceptor both sink together.
काष्ठैरार्द्रैर्यथा वह्निरुपस्तीर्णो न दीप्यते तपःस्वाध्यायचारित्रैरेवं हीनः प्रतिग्रही
M. N. Dutt: As a fire that is covered with wet fuel does not burn, so the acceptor of a gift who has not practised penances, and piety to those who studied Vedas, but cannot confer any benefit (upon the giver).
कपाले यद्वदापः स्युः श्वदृतौ वा यथा पयः आश्रयस्थानदोषेण वृत्तहीने तथा श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: As water in a skull and milk in a bag made of dog-skin become impure for the uncleanness of the vessels in which they are kept, so the Vedas become fruitless in a person who is not of good conduct.
निर्मन्त्रो निर्व्रतो यः स्यादशास्त्रज्ञोऽनसूयकः अनुक्रोशात्प्रदातव्यं दीनेष्वेवं नरेष्वपि
M. N. Dutt: One may give from pity to a low Brahmana who is without Mantras and vows, who is innocent of the scriptures and who is envious.
न वै देयमनुक्रोशाद्दीनायाप्यपकारिणे आप्ताचरितमित्येव धर्म इत्येव वा पुनः
M. N. Dutt: One may, from pity, give to a person who is poor or afflicted or ill. But he should not make charities to such a person with the belief that he would drive any (spiritual) benefit from it or that he would acquire any religious merit by it.
निष्कारणं स्म तद्दत्तं ब्राह्मणे धर्मवर्जिते भवेदपात्रदोषेण न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा
M. N. Dutt: Forsooth, gift made to a Brahmana ignorant of the Vedas, becomes perfectly fruitless for the shortcomings of the recipient.
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः ब्राह्मणश्चानधीयानस्त्रयस्ते नामधारकाः
M. N. Dutt: As an elephant made of wood, or an antelope made of leather, so is a Brahmana who has not read the Vedas. All the three have nothing but names.
यथा षण्ढोऽफलः स्त्रीषु यथा गौर्गवि चाफला शकुनिर्वाप्यपक्षः स्यान्निर्मन्त्रो ब्राह्मणस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: As a eunuch cannot beget children on women, as a cow does not procreats on another cow, as a bird lives in vain that is featherless, even so is a Brahmana that without Mantras.
ग्रामधान्यं यथा शून्यं यथा कूपश्च निर्जलः यथा हुतमनग्नौ च तथैव स्यान्निराकृतौ
M. N. Dutt: As grain without kernel, as a well without water, as libations poured on ashes, even so is a gift to a Brahmana who is ignorant.
देवतानां पितॄणां च हव्यकव्यविनाशनः शत्रुरर्थहरो मूर्खो न लोकान्प्राप्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: An unlearned Brahmana is an enemy (to all) and is the destroyer of the food that is offered to the gods and the departed manes. A gift made to such a person become useless. He is, therefore, like a robber. He can never attain to blissful regions hereafter.
एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं यथा वृत्तं युधिष्ठिर समासेन महद्ध्येतच्छ्रोतव्यं भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: now I have told you in brief, O Yudhishthira, all that was said by Manu on that occasion. This high discourse should be listened to by all, O foremost of Bharata's race.'