THE CODE OF MANU

(Of unknown antiquity.)

THE collection of laws and precepts commonly called “The Code of Manu" is the oldest and most celebrated of many books of the law that were compiled among the ancient Hindus for the purpose of giving more definiteness to the vague injunctions of the Vedic hymns. Sir William Jones assigned the work to as early a date as 1280 в. c. Mr. Elphinstone placed it 900 years B. C. In the opinion of Sir Monier Monier-Williams, it can scarcely, in its present form, be placed earlier or later than the fifth century B. C. Says the latter: "We must beware of imagining that Manu's Law-book is a record of national ordinances and institutions prevalent over the whole" of India. "No doubt ultimately it worked its way to acceptance with the entire Hindu community; and certainly in the end it not only secured for itself a high place in popular estimation and a degree of reverence only second to that accorded to the Veda, but it became, moreover, the chief authority as a basis of Hindu jurisprudence." "Some of its moral precepts are worthy of Chris

tianity itself."

In Sir Monier's interesting work entitled "Indian Wisdom," he gives, "as literally as possible," a metrical version of some of Manu's most noteworthy precepts, selected_from different parts of the Code, under the four heads of Āćāra, rules of conduct; Vyavahāra, rules of government and judicature; Prayas-citta, penance; Karma-phala, rewards and punishments of acts. The following is his version of the ‘Āćāra, or Rules of Conduct."

66

AĆARA, OR RULES OF CONDUCT.

(From the Code of Manu.)

Think constantly, O son, how thou mayest please
Thy father, mother, teacher these obey.
By deep devotion seek thy debt to pay.
This is thy highest duty and religion.

(ii. 228.)

Who finds around him only wicked sons,
When called by fate to pass the gloom of death,
Is like a man who seeks to cross a flood
Borne on a raft composed of rotten wood.

Even though wronged, treat not with disrespect
Thy father, mother, teacher, elder brother.

(ix. 161.)

(ii. 226.)

From poison thou mayest, take the food of life,
The purest gold from lumps of impure earth,
Examples of good conduct from a foe,
Sweet speech and gentleness from e'en a child,
Something from all; from men of low degree
Lessons of wisdom, if thou humble be.

(ii. 238, 239.)

Wound not another, though by him provoked,

Do no one injury by thought or deed,
Utter no word to pain thy fellow-creatures.

Say what is true, speak not agreeable falsehood.

(ii. 161.)

(iv. 138.)

Treat no one with disdain, with patience bear
Reviling language; with an angry man
Be never angry; blessings give for curses.

(vi. 47, 48.)

E'en as a driver checks his restive steeds,

Do thou, if thou art wise, restrain thy passions,
Which, running wild, will hurry thee away.

(ii. 88.)
When asked, give something, though a very trifle,
Ungrudgingly and with a cheerful heart,
According to thy substance; only see
That he to whom thou givest worthy be.

(iv. 227, 228.)

Pride not thyself on thy religious works,
Give to the poor, but talk not of thy gifts.
By pride religious merit melts away,
The merit of thy alms by ostentation.

(iv. 236, 237.)

None sees us, say the sinful in their hearts;

Yes, the gods see them, and the omniscient Spirit

Within their breasts. Thou thinkest, O good friend,

'I am alone,' but there resides within thee
A Being who inspects thy every act,
Knows all thy goodness and thy wickedness.

(viii. 85, 91.)

The soul is its own witness, yea, the soul
Itself is its own refuge; grieve thou not,
O man, thy soul, the great internal Witness.

(viii. 84.)

The Firmament, the Earth, the Sea, the Moon,
The Sun, the Fire, the Wind, the Night, and both
The sacred Twilights, and the Judge of souls,

The god of Justice, and the Heart itself

All constantly survey the acts of men.

(viii. 86.)

When thou hast sinned, think not to hide thy guilt
Under a cloak of penance and austerity.

(iv. 198.)

No study of the Veda, nor oblation,

No gift of alms, nor round of strict observance
Can lead the inwardly depraved to heaven.

If with the great Divinity who dwells
Within thy breast thou hast no controversy,

(ii. 97.)

Go not to Ganges' water to be cleansed,

Nor make a pilgrimage to Kuru's fields.

(viii. 92.)

Iniquity once practised, like a seed,

Fails not to yield its fruit to him who wrought it,
If not to him, yet to his sons and grandsons.

(iv. 173.)

Contentment is the root of happiness,

And discontent the root of misery.

Wouldst thou be happy, be thou moderate.

(iv. 12.)

Honour thy food, receive it thankfully,

Eat it contentedly and joyfully,

Ne'er hold it in contempt; avoid excess,
For gluttony is hateful, injures health,

May lead to death, and surely bars the road
To holy merit and celestial bliss.

Desire is not extinguished by enjoyment,
Fire is not quenched by offerings of oil,

But blazes with increased intensity.

(ii. 54, 57.)

(ii. 94.)

Shrink thou from worldly honour as from poison,
Seek rather scorn; the scorn'd may sleep in peace,
In peace awake; the scorner perishes.

Daily perform thy own appointed work
Unweariedly; and to obtain a friend —

A sure companion to the future world-
Collect a store of virtue like the ants
Who garner up
their treasures into heaps;
For neither father, mother, wife, nor son,
Nor kinsman, will remain beside thee then,
When thou art passing to that other home
Thy virtue will thy only comrade be.

(iv. 238, 239.)

Single is every living creature born,
Single he passes to another world,
Single he eats the fruit of evil deeds,
Single, the fruit of good; and when he leaves
His body like a log or heap of clay

Upon the ground, his kinsmen walk away;
Virtue alone stays by him at the tomb

And bears him through the dreary trackless gloom.

(iv. 240, 242.)

Thou canst not gather what thou dost not sow;
As thou dost plant the tree so will it grow.

(ix. 40.)

Depend not on another, rather lean
Upon thyself; trust to thine own exertions.

Subjection to another's will gives pain;

True happiness consists in self-reliance.

(iv. 160.)

Strive to complete the task thou hast commenced;

Wearied, renew thy efforts once again;

Again fatigued, once more the work begin,

So shalt thou earn success and fortune win.

(ix. 300.)

Never despise thyself, nor yet contemn

Thy own first efforts, though they end in failure;
Seek Fortune with persistency till death,

Nor ever deem her hard to be obtained.

(iv. 137.)