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LAWS OF MANU.
II, 6.
state and even in this life) obtains (the fulfilment of) all the desires that he may have conceived..
6. The whole Veda is the (first) source of the sacred law, next the tradition and the virtuous conduct of those who know the (Veda further), also the customs of holy men, and (finally) self-satisfaction.
7. Whatever law has been ordained for any (person) by Manu, that has been fully declared in the Veda : for that (sage was) omniscient.
8. But a learned man after fully scrutinising all this with the eye of knowledge, should, in accordance with the authority of the revealed texts, be intent on (the performance of) his duties.
6. Âp. I, I, I, 1-3; Gaut. I, I-4; XXVIII, 48; Vas. I, 4-6; Baudh. I, 1, 1, 1-6; Yâgñ. I, 7.
Sila, virtuous conduct,' i.e. the suppression of inordinate affection and hatred,' Medh., Gov.; "the thirteenfold sila, behaving as becomes a Brâhmana, devotedness to gods and parents, kindliness,' &c., Kull.; "that towards which many men who know the Veda naturally incline,' Nâr.; "that which makes one honoured by good men,' Nand. Customs, e. g. such as tying at marriages a thread round the wrist of the bride (Medh., Gov.), wearing a blanket or a garment of bark (Kull.). Though the commentators try to find a difference between sila and akara, it may be that both terms are used here, because in some Dharma-sútras, e.g. Gaut. I, 2, the former and in some the latter (e. g. Vas. I, 5) is mentioned. The
self-satisfaction,' i.e. of the virtuous (Medh., Gov., Nand.), is the rule for cases not to be settled by any of the other authorities (Nar., Nand.), or for cases where an option is permitted (Medh., Gov., Kull.).
7. The last clause is taken differently by Gov., who explains it, for that (Veda) is made up, as it were, of all knowledge. Medh. gives substantially the same explanation.
8. All this,' i.e. the Sâstras' (Medh., Gov., Kull.); these Institutes of Manu' (Nâr.); "these different authorities' (Nand.). With the eye of knowledge,' i. e. with the help of grammar, of the Mîmâmsâ, &c.' (Medh., Kull.).
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