Manava Dharmashastra 2.155

2.155

.ayamadhyarthavāda eva | yaduktaṃ ‘vittādibhyaḥ samuditebhyaḥ kevalā'pi vidyā jyāyasīti’ tadeva saprapañcamanena nirdiśyate | brāhmaṇānāṃ jñānena jyaiṣṭhyaṃ, na vittādibhiḥ | kṣatriyāṇāṃ vīryataḥ | vīryaṃ dravyasya kauśalaṃ, dṛḍhaprāṇatā ca | vaiśyānāṃ dhānyadhanataḥ | dhānyasya pṛthagupādānāddhanaśabdo hiraṇyādivacanaḥ, brāhmaṇaparivrājakavat | bahudhano vaiśyaḥ sa jyeṣṭhaḥ | ādyāditvāttṛtīyārthe tasiḥ, hetau tṛtīyā (pā.sū. 2|

Among Brāhmaṇas seniority is by knowledge; among Kṣatriyas by valour; and among Vaiśyas by grains and riches; among Shudras alone it is by age.—(155)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
This also is a purely commendatory description.

It has been asserted above that knowledge singly is superior to wealth and other things taken together; and the same idea is re-iterated in greater detail, in this verse.

‘Among Brāhmaṇas, seniority is by knowledge’—not by wealth, etc.

‘Among Kṣatriyas by valour’;—‘va lour’ stands for the ‘efficiency’ of a substance and also for ‘firmness of strength.’

‘Among Vaiśyas by grains and riches’;—‘grains’ being mentioned separately, the term ‘riches’ is to be taken as signifying gold, etc.; just as in the expression ‘brāhamaṇa-pariv rājaka.’ [Where the Brāhmaṇa being mentioned separately, the term ‘parivrājaka’ is taken as standing for the renunciate of other castes.]

The Vaiśya possessing a large quantity of wealth is regarded as senior.

The affiix ‘tasi’ (in the words ‘jñānataḥ,’ etc.) denotes cause, and is used in accordance with Pāṇini 2.3.23.—(155)

This verse is quoted in Vidhānapārijāta II (p. 233);—in Madanapārijāta (p. 32);—and in Vīramitrodaya (Saṃskāra, p. 480).

Medhātithi (P. 145,1.16)—‘Brāhmaṇaparivrājakavat’—This maxim is generally cited in cases where an object whose character has become modified is spoken of by a name connotative of its former condition. For instance, when a Brāhmaṇa has become a ‘wandering mendicant’, he is called ‘Brāhmaṇa-mendicant’, in consideration of his past Brahmaṇahood. In the present context however the maxim is used in the sense that where one uses the term ‘Brāhmaṇaparivrājaka’, the Brāhmaṇa being already spoken of by name, the term

Comparative notes by various authors
Viṣṇu, 32-18.—(Reproduces Manu.)