Verse 8.357

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

उपचारक्रिया केलिः स्पर्शो भूषणवाससाम् ।
सह खट्वाऽसनं चैव सर्वं सङ्ग्रहणं स्मृतम् ॥ ३५७ ॥

upacārakriyā keliḥ sparśo bhūṣaṇavāsasām |
saha khaṭvā'sanaṃ caiva sarvaṃ saṅgrahaṇaṃ smṛtam || 357 ||

Offering help, flirting, touching of ornaments and clothes, sitting on the same bed,—all this has been declared to be ‘adultery.’—(357)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The ‘offering of help,’— in the shape of clothes, garlands, or articles of food and drink and other things,—to a lady who is not related to one in any way.

‘Flirting’—joking in ambiguous words, etc.

‘Ornaments,’— the necklace, the bracelet and so forth, either when all this is actually on her body, or even when held by others, if he touches them, without reason, simply because they belong to that particular lady.

‘Sitting on the same bed,’—oven without actually touching. All this makes him liable to the same punishment.—(357)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Vivādaratnākara (p. 381), which explains ‘upakārakriyā’ as ‘behaving agreeably,’—and ‘keli’ as ‘flirtation.’

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 8.357-358)

Nārada (12.65-66).—‘If one touches a woman where she should not be touched, or allows himself to be similarly touched,—all such acts, done with mutual consent are declared to be Adultery. Bestowing attentions on a woman, sporting with her, touching her ornaments or clothes, sitting with her on the same bed,—all such acts are declared to be adulterous.’

Arthaśāstra (p. 175).—‘Catching hold of each other’s hair is Adultery.’

Bṛhaspati (23.6-8).—‘Winking at a woman, smiling at her, sending go-betweens to her, touching her ornaments or clothes,—is called Adultery of the first degree. Sending perfumes, garlands, fruits, wine, food or clothes, and conversing with her in secret, are regarded to be adulterous acts of the second degree. Sitting on the same bed, dallying, kissing or embracing each other,—is defined as Adultery of the highest degree.’

Yājñavalkya (2.254).—‘Touching of the cloth-knot, the cover over her breast, or of her thighs or hair, conversing with her at improper times and places, and sitting with her on the same bed—(all this is Adultery).’

Vyāsa (Aparārka, p. 855).—(Reproduces Manu CCCLVII.)

Do. (Vivādaratnākara, p. 380).—‘Sending such presents as perfumes and garlands, incense, ornaments and clothes, and tempting her with foods and drinks,—all this they regard as Adultery of the middle degree. Sitting close to each other on the same couch or seat, and catching hold of each other’s hair,—this should be regarded as Adultery of the worst degree.’

Kātyāyana (Vivādaratnākara, p. 382).—‘Whatever acts a man does with the intention of having intercourse with a woman, all such are declared to he reprehensible, as being conducive to the fulfilment of illicit love. If a man sends presents to the woman, or meets her at unreasonable hours and improper places, or touches her neck or hair or clothes, ears, nose, hands or other parts of the body,—if he sits with her and dines with her on the same seat,—all this has been declared by the sages to be Adultery. All such acts as sending presents of perfumes, garlands and clothes, and sending letters to her, should be regarded as indicative of Adultery.’