Manava Dharmashastra 4.52

4.52

chāyā kuḍyakapāṭādibhiḥ sūryaraśmīnāmāvaraṇam | andhakāraḥ meghadhūmikāsvarbhānurātrikṛto jyotirantarāyaḥ | yathāsukhaṃ sukhamasyeti | yayā diśā sukhaṃ bhavati tasyāmevoccaret | yatra digbhāgo na jñāyate andhakāre tatrāyaṃ vidhiḥ | prāṇābādhaḥ prāṇapīḍā | bhayaṃ caurādikṛtam |
kecidimaṃ ślokamasminnadhyāye nādhīyate |

In the shade, or in darkness, the Brāhmaṇa may—during the day or the night—do it, with his face towards any direction he pleases; as also where there is danger to life, and when there is fear.’—(52)

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Shade’—i.e., where the sun’s rays are shut out by walls or doors, etc.

‘Darkness’—the obstruction of light by clouds or fogs or eclipses or by night.

‘With his face towards any direction he pleases.’—He shall pass urine with his face towards that direction which he finds convenient.

This rule pertains to such ‘darkness’ as makes it impossible for the directions to be determined.

‘Danger to life,’ and ‘fear’—due to thieves, etc.—(52)

This verse is quoted in Madanapārijāta (p. 42), which adds that this applies to cases where, on account of mist or fog, the man is unable to ascertain the directions.

It is quoted in Vīramitrodaya (Āhnika, p. 30), which adds the following explanation:—During the night, in shade or in darkness,—and during the day, in shade or in darkness caused by fog etc.,—and during suffering to life caused by disease etc.,—and in danger due to thieves, tiger and such other things;—Kullūka Bhaṭṭa reads ‘prāṇabādhābhayeṣu’ and explains it to man ‘when there is danger to life at the hands of thieves etc.,’—‘one should do’—i.e., the ‘mūtrocchārasamutsargam’ (of the preceding verse). This verse supplies an exception to the law regarding the facing of the North or the East etc.; so that this latter law remains applicable to the day, when there is light, and also to the night when there is moon-light. This view has the support of Kalpataru. In view of the present verse specifying ‘day and night’, the facing of the North remains compulsory at the two twilights. The author of Smṛticandrikā, Mādhavācḥārya, Kullūka Bhaṭṭa and others have held the view that the first half applies to cases where one has lost all sense of direction; but this view has been rejected on the ground that there is no authority for restricting the rule in this manner.

This is quoted in Smṛtitattva (p. 329);—in Vidhānapārijāta (II, p. 152), which also adds that this refers to cases where the man has lost all sense of direction;—and in Aparārka (p. 34).

Comparative notes by various authors
Vaśiṣṭha (6.13).—[Reproduces Manu.]