Manava Dharmashastra 5.22

5.22

bhakṣyaprasaṅgena hiṃsā'bhyanujñāyate | ṛtyarthaṃ kṣutpīḍāyāṃ bhṛtyāṅgebhojanāntarāsaṃbhave bhakṣyamṛgapakṣivadhaḥ kartavyaḥ | bhṛtyāḥ prāgvyākhyātāḥ | agastyastathākṛtavānityagastyagrahaṇaṃ praśaṃsārtham | yaccārthamityādyo'rdhaśloko'rthavāda eva| tatra hi vadhaḥ pratyakṣaśrutivihitatvādeva siddhaḥ | praśastā ye bhakṣyatayā'nujñātāḥ | eṣa evārtha uttaraśloke vistarataḥ karmārthavādatayā kathyate |

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
In connection with food fit to be eaten, the Text proceeds to sanction the act of killing.

If one’s dependents are very much pressed by hunger, and no other food can be found, then one may kill such birds and beasts as are fit to be eaten. The exact meaning of the term ‘dependent’ has been explained before (as standing for parents, wife etc.)

The mention of Agastya—that Agastya did the act—is only by way of recommendation.

The first half of the verse is purely commendatory; because the act of killing in connection with sarcifices is directly enjoined by the Vedic injunctions themselves (and as such does not stand in need of any sanction from the present text).

‘Commanded’—i.e., permitted as lit to be eaten.

This same thing is slated in the next verse in greater detail, as bearing upon the recommendation of certain acts.—(22).