Manusmriti Chapter 9 Verse 225 < HD >

Feature: The Existential Reciprocity of Dharma

Verse 225 serves as a clear example of Manu’s exclusionary social policy. While it aims to prevent crime by removing "bad actors," it also institutionalizes the marginalization of religious outsiders and those in "impure" professions. manusmriti chapter 9 verse 225

from this chapter related to the duties of a king, or perhaps see how modern scholars critique these ancient legal codes? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more Manusmriti Verse 9.225 Feature: The Existential Reciprocity of Dharma Verse 225

Comparative Ancient Law: Not Unique to Manu

To be fair, laws allowing the sale or pledge of family members in times of extreme distress existed across ancient civilizations: Limited application: Most historians agree that the outright

The Literal Translation: What Does the Verse Say?

First, let us establish the exact text. The most widely cited translation of the Manusmriti in the academic world is by George Bühler (1886), published as part of the Sacred Books of the East series.

• Limited application: Most historians agree that the outright "sale" of a wife or child was extremely rare in mainstream Hindu society. It was a clause for apocalyptic emergencies. The later Mitakshara commentary (by Vijnaneshwara, 12th century CE) further restricted this, arguing that even in emergencies, a husband could not sell his wife or son to a degraded person or for an immoral purpose.
• Mortgage vs. Sale: The verse includes "mortgaging" (adhī), which was more common. A husband could temporarily "pledge" his wife or child to a creditor as surety for a loan. This was a brutal practice, but it existed across many ancient cultures.
• The rise of Stridhana: Later legal traditions (8th–12th century CE) increasingly protected women’s separate property (stridhana) and autonomy, effectively making the "sale" of a wife a legal impossibility except in the most barbaric interpretations.

Either those who sell liquor or those habitually addicted to intoxication. Wisdom Library Legal Context and Purpose

Here is the text of Manusmriti (Manu Smriti), Chapter 9, Verse 225, along with its context and meaning.