Manava Dharmashastra 5.112

5.112

arthavādo'yam |
"agnirvai varuṇī"tyārabhyākāmayatetyādyarthavādeṣu hemnaḥ suvarṇasya rūpyasya cotpattiḥ śrutā | 'puruṣadharmeṇābhirvaruṇānirapo'kāmayata, maithunadharmeṇa samayujyata' | tata etaddvayaṃ nirbabhau udbhūtam | atastayoḥ svayonyā svenotpattikāraṇenāgninā atyantopaghāte udakena ca |
"sayonyeti" pāṭhe samānotpattinā bhasmaneti vyākhyeyam | taddarśanācca mṛdo'pi kadācidanujñāyante |
nirṇekaḥ śodhanaṃ guṇavattaraḥ |

Gold and silver sprang out of the union of water and fire; for these reasons the purification of these two is best done by means of their source.—(112.)

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

In the series of commendatory passages beginning with the words ‘agnirvai varuṇam’ and ending with ‘abhyākāmyata’, the origin of gold and silver has been described; the meaning of which is that—‘Agni approached Varuṇa, i.e., water, in the manner of a male approaching a female, and had sexual intercourse with it, and out of this sprang gold and silver.’

For this reason the purification of these is done by means of their ‘source’; i.e., by fire when there is much defilement, and algo by water.

Another reading is ‘Sayonyā’; in which case the meaning is ‘by that which has the same source as themselves’, i.e., by ash. And in accordance with this view cleansing by means of clay is also sometimes permitted.

The ‘purification is best done’.— (112).

(Verse 113 of others.)

This verse is quoted in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Śrāddha, p. 15b);—in Hemādri, (Śrāddha, p. 802);—and in Nṛsiṃhaprasāda (Śrāddha, p. 15a).

Comparative notes by various authors
(verses 5.111-112)
See Comparative notes for Verse 5.111.