Dhammapada

SR No.: 007674
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2540
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 45 MB

Page 1778

16
VASISHTHA.
II, 51.
51. 'Hear the interest for a money-lender declared by the words of Vasishtha, five mâshâs for twenty (kârshậpanas may be taken every month); thus the law is not violated.'
CHAPTER III. 1. (Brâhmanas) who neither study nor teach the Veda nor keep sacred fires become equal to Sūdras;
2. And they quote a verse of Manu on this (subject), 'A twice-born man, who not having studied the Veda applies himself to other (and worldly study) soon falls, even while living, to the condition of a Sadra, and his descendants after him.'
3. (A twice-born man) who does not know the
view. Krishnapandita's text shows two important various readings,
bhritibhâvena' and 'ragabhîshikena,' which I think are merely conjectures, unsupported by the authority of MSS. He explains the verse as follows: 'The king shall destroy, i.e. himself not take, the interest on money by giving (it away as a salary. But, after thus giving away interest received, he may increase his capital by [an extra tax imposed on the cultivators, i. e. take from them the highest rate, consisting of one-fourth of the produce.'
51. Gautama XII, 29; Colebrooke I, Dig. XXIV. The rule given in this Sūtra refers, as Krishnapandita correctly states, to loans, for which security is given. The rate is 14 per cent for the month, or 15 per annum; see the note to Gautama loc. cit. Manu, VIII, 140, especially mentions that this rate is prescribed by Vasishtha.
III. 1. I read Sadrasadharmanah, equal to Sudras,' instead of sûdrakarmânah, which occurs in MS. B. only. Krishnapandita explains the latter reading by sûdravatkarma yeshu te sûdravatteshvâkaranîyamityarthah, shall be treated like Sadras.' But the verses quoted in the following Sätras show that the former reading is the better one.
2. Identical with Manu II, 168.
3. This and the following nine verses are, as the word 'iti,' which the best MSS. give at the end of Sûtra 12, quotations.
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