Manava Dharmashastra 5.17

5.17

ekacarāḥ sarpollūkādaya ekākinaścaranti | ajñātānnāmato jātiviśeṣataśca | mṛgadvijān | mṛgāḥ pakṣiṇaśca na bhakṣyāḥ | bhakṣyeṣvapi samuddiṣṭān | ye'pratiṣiddhāste tādrūpye asati bhakṣyatāṃ prāptāḥ samuddiṣṭā iva bhavanti | na tu bhakṣyāṇāṃ samuddeśo'sti | pariharttavyatayā viśeṣato'vijñātā bhakṣyapacapatitā 'bhakṣyeṣvapi samuddiṣṭā' ityevamucyante | pañcanakhāṃśca vānaraśṛgālādayaḥ | sarvagrahaṇaṃ pādapūraṇārtham |

He shall not eat solitary animals, nor unknown beasts and birds, even though indicated among those fit to be eaten; nor any five-nailed animals.—(17).

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Solitary’—those animals that move about singly (not in herds); such as serpents, owls and the like.

‘Unknown’—as regards name and kind.

‘Beasts and birds;’—neither beasts nor birds are fit to be taken.

‘Even though indicated among those fit to be eaten’—Those that are not actually forbidden are, to that extent, regarded as fit to be eaten; and hence indirectly ‘indicated’ as such. In reality, there is no direct indication of those fit to be eaten. Those that are not specially recognised as to be avoided come to be regarded as fit to be eaten; and these are spoken of as ‘indicated as fit to be eaten’.

‘Fire-nailed animals:’—e.g. the Monkey, the Jackal and the like.

‘Any’—has been added for filling up the metre.—(17)