Re sharing from a post I came across.
From the "Manu Smriti" (the oldest and most authoritative law book of the Hindus) (I borrowed the verses from Holy Vedas)
No Dowry
Manusmriti 3.52
stridhanani tu ye mohadupajivanti bandhavah |
nariyanani vastram va te papa yantyadhogatim ||
—“ Those relatives who rob away or thrive on wealth, property, vehicles or dresses of a woman or her family are wiliest of people, they commit sin and sink to hell.”
Honour women
Manusmriti 3.56 :
yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah |
yatraitastu na pujyante sarvastatraphalah kriyah ||
—" Where women are honoured, there the Deities are pleased; but where they are not honoured, no sacred rite yields rewards. "
Manusmriti 3.57 :
shocanti jamayo yatra vinashyatyashu tat kulam |
na shocanti tu yatraita vardhate tad hi sarvada ||
—" Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers. "
Manusmriti 3.58 :
jamayo yani gehani shapantyapratipujitah |
tani krityahataniva vinashyanti samantatah ||
—"The houses on which female relations, not being duly honoured, pronounce a curse, perish completely, as if destroyed by magic. "
Manusmriti 9.26
prajanartham mahabhagah pujarha grihadiptayah |
striyah shriyashca geheshu na vishesho.asti kashcana ||
—“ Women who give birth to next generation, who enlighten the home bring fortune and bliss. Hence women are synonymous to Prosperity.”
Manusmriti 9.28
apatyam dharmakaryani shushrusha ratiruttama |
dara.adhinastatha svargah pitrinamatmanashca ha ||
—“Offspring , the due performance on religious rites, faithful service, highest conjugal happiness and heavenly bliss for the ancestors and oneself, depend on one’s wife alone.”
Choice of Marriage
Manusmriti 9.90
trini varshanyudiksheta kumaryartumati sati |
urdhvam tu kaladetasmad vindeta sadrisham patim ||
—“Three years let a damsel wait, though she be marriageable; but after that time let her choose for herself a bridegroom (of) equal (caste and rank).”
Manusmriti 9.91
adiyamana bhartaramadhigacched yadi svayam |
nainah kim cidavapnoti na ca yam sa.adhigacchati ||
—“If, being not given in marriage, she herself seeks a husband, she incurs no guilt, nor (does) he whom she weds.”
Share in Property
Manusmriti 9.130
yathaivatma tatha putrah putrena duhita sama |
tasyamatmani tishöhantyam kathamanyo dhanam haret ||
—“ A son is even (as) oneself, (such) a daughter is equal to a son; how can another (heir) take the estate, while such (an appointed daughter who is even) oneself, lives?”
Manusmriti 9.131
matustu yautakam yat syat kumaribhaga eva sah |
dauhitra eva ca haredaputrasyakhilam dhanam ||
—“But whatever may be the separate property of the mother, that is the share of the unmarried daughter alone; and the son of an (appointed) daughter shall take the whole estate of (his maternal grandfather) who leaves no son.”
Manusmriti 9.212
sodarya vibhajeramstam sametya sahitah samam |
bhrataro ye ca samshrishöa bhaginyashca sanabhayah ||
Manusmriti 9.213
yo jyeshöho vinikurvita lobhad bhratrin yaviyasah |
so.ajyeshöhah syadabhagashca niyantavyashca rajabhih ||
These verses state that if a person has no kins or wife, then his wealth be distributed equally among his brothers and sisters. If the elder brother refuses to give due share to other brothers and sisters, he is punishable by law.
To further ensure safety of women, Manu recommended harsh punishments for those who rob away wealth of a woman, even if they are her relatives.
From the "Manu Smriti" (the oldest and most authoritative law book of the Hindus) (I borrowed the verses from Holy Vedas)
No Dowry
Manusmriti 3.52
stridhanani tu ye mohadupajivanti bandhavah |
nariyanani vastram va te papa yantyadhogatim ||
—“ Those relatives who rob away or thrive on wealth, property, vehicles or dresses of a woman or her family are wiliest of people, they commit sin and sink to hell.”
Honour women
Manusmriti 3.56 :
yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah |
yatraitastu na pujyante sarvastatraphalah kriyah ||
—" Where women are honoured, there the Deities are pleased; but where they are not honoured, no sacred rite yields rewards. "
Manusmriti 3.57 :
shocanti jamayo yatra vinashyatyashu tat kulam |
na shocanti tu yatraita vardhate tad hi sarvada ||
—" Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers. "
Manusmriti 3.58 :
jamayo yani gehani shapantyapratipujitah |
tani krityahataniva vinashyanti samantatah ||
—"The houses on which female relations, not being duly honoured, pronounce a curse, perish completely, as if destroyed by magic. "
Manusmriti 9.26
prajanartham mahabhagah pujarha grihadiptayah |
striyah shriyashca geheshu na vishesho.asti kashcana ||
—“ Women who give birth to next generation, who enlighten the home bring fortune and bliss. Hence women are synonymous to Prosperity.”
Manusmriti 9.28
apatyam dharmakaryani shushrusha ratiruttama |
dara.adhinastatha svargah pitrinamatmanashca ha ||
—“Offspring , the due performance on religious rites, faithful service, highest conjugal happiness and heavenly bliss for the ancestors and oneself, depend on one’s wife alone.”
Choice of Marriage
Manusmriti 9.90
trini varshanyudiksheta kumaryartumati sati |
urdhvam tu kaladetasmad vindeta sadrisham patim ||
—“Three years let a damsel wait, though she be marriageable; but after that time let her choose for herself a bridegroom (of) equal (caste and rank).”
Manusmriti 9.91
adiyamana bhartaramadhigacched yadi svayam |
nainah kim cidavapnoti na ca yam sa.adhigacchati ||
—“If, being not given in marriage, she herself seeks a husband, she incurs no guilt, nor (does) he whom she weds.”
Share in Property
Manusmriti 9.130
yathaivatma tatha putrah putrena duhita sama |
tasyamatmani tishöhantyam kathamanyo dhanam haret ||
—“ A son is even (as) oneself, (such) a daughter is equal to a son; how can another (heir) take the estate, while such (an appointed daughter who is even) oneself, lives?”
Manusmriti 9.131
matustu yautakam yat syat kumaribhaga eva sah |
dauhitra eva ca haredaputrasyakhilam dhanam ||
—“But whatever may be the separate property of the mother, that is the share of the unmarried daughter alone; and the son of an (appointed) daughter shall take the whole estate of (his maternal grandfather) who leaves no son.”
Manusmriti 9.212
sodarya vibhajeramstam sametya sahitah samam |
bhrataro ye ca samshrishöa bhaginyashca sanabhayah ||
Manusmriti 9.213
yo jyeshöho vinikurvita lobhad bhratrin yaviyasah |
so.ajyeshöhah syadabhagashca niyantavyashca rajabhih ||
These verses state that if a person has no kins or wife, then his wealth be distributed equally among his brothers and sisters. If the elder brother refuses to give due share to other brothers and sisters, he is punishable by law.
To further ensure safety of women, Manu recommended harsh punishments for those who rob away wealth of a woman, even if they are her relatives.
Manu smriti also known as Manav Dharmashastra is translated from sanskrit to english during the British rule of India in 1794, by Sir William Jones...
ReplyDelete.. quite a good read you got here