Manava Dharmashastra 4.49

4.49

asyārthavādaḥ | "nanu codaṅmukhasya mehanavidhānātpūrvasyāmudayācca sūryasya kutastadābhimukhyaṃ bhavedyena pratisūryaṃ niṣidhyate"| arthavādo'yam | "nāntarikṣe na divītivat" | athavodagayane udīcīṃ diśamākramet syātsambhavaḥ | prakṛtaviṣayo vā pratiṣedhaḥ | pratisandhiyamiti paṭhanti| tadayuktam| "sandhyayośca yathā divā", ityanujñānādregadhāraṇasya ca niṣiddhatvāt | tasmātprativātamiti paṭhitavyam | pūrvaśeṣo'yam | mehataḥ | śatraṃtastasantau vā | mehataḥ puruṣasya, mehanādvā |

As a commendatory supplement to this we have the next verse.

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
“Since it has been laid down that one should pass urine, facing the north,—and the sun rises in the east,—how can one ever face the sun, in view of which possibility we have the present prohibition?”

The present verse is a commendatory supplement; just like the assertion—‘not in the sky, nor in heaven, &c.’ Then again, during the northern solstice, the sun moving towards the north, it would be possible to face the sun. Or, the prohibition may be taken as meant for the common people (who may not know the rule regarding urinating with face towards the north).

Some people read ‘pratisandhyam.’ But this is not right; because regarding the passing of urine we have the rule that ‘during the two twilights it shall be done as during the day;’ and also because the forcible checking of urine, etc., has been forbidden. For these reasons, we should read ‘prativātam,’ facing the wind.’

This verse is supplementary to the foregoing one.

‘Mehakaḥ’—may be construed either as ending with the Present-participial affix ‘śatṛ,’ or with the affix ‘tas’ (having the sense of the Ablative); the meaning being—‘the man passing urine,’ or ‘by the passing of urine.’—(49)