Verse 8.300

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

पृष्ठतस्तु शरीरस्य नोत्तमाङ्गे कथं चन ।
अतोऽन्यथा तु प्रहरन् प्राप्तः स्याच्चौरकिल्बिषम् ॥ ३०० ॥

pṛṣṭhatastu śarīrasya nottamāṅge kathaṃ cana |
ato'nyathā tu praharan prāptaḥ syāccaurakilbiṣam || 300 ||

But only on the back part of the body, and never on the upper part; he who strikes otherwise than this incurs the guilt of a thief.—(300)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

He who strikes with things other than those specified—i.e., with a stick or such things—or on a part of the body other than those mentioned,—i.e., on the eye, etc.—‘incurs the guilt of a thief.’

This is only meant to be deprecatory of the act referred to; and is not the injunction of an actual punishment; so that in this case also the penalty shall be the same as that in other oases of ‘hurt.’—(300)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 514);—in Aparārka (p. 610), which explains that ‘kilviṣam’ means ‘an offence deserving punishment’;—again on p. 817, where ‘kilviṣam’ is explained as ‘punishment’;—in Vivādaratnākara (p. 271), which explains ‘pṛṣṭhataḥ’ as ‘not in a vital part,’ and ‘uttamāṅge’ also as ‘in a vital part’;—in Vidhānapārijāta (p. 530);—in Mitākṣarā (2.32), in support of the view that, if, in a fit of passion, the Teacher should strike the pupil in a vital part of the body, and the boy should complain before the king, then it becomes an admissible suit;—in Vyavahāra-Balambhaṭṭī (pp. 572 and 919);—in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Saṃskāra, 47b);—in Saṃskāramayūkha (p. 52) to the effect that no one should be struck on the head;—in Saṃskāraratnamālā (p, 315), which says that ‘uttamāṅga’ means ‘head’;—in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 142);—and in Vivādacintāmaṇi (Calcutta, p. 76).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.299-301)

See Comparative notes for Verse 8.299.