na māṃsa-bhakṣaṇe doṣo na madye na ca maithune | pravṛttir eṣā bhūtānāṃ nivṛttis tu mahā-phalā || 31 ||
Manu tries to have it both ways: uphold the Vedas (which permit sacrifice) while accommodating the new ethical sensibility (which questions all killing). Verse 5.31 is the textual scar of this historical tug-of-war. manusmriti chapter 5 verse 31
For orthodox commentators like Medhātithi, verse 5.31 is a clear affirmation of Vedic sacrifice. They argue: na māṃsa-bhakṣaṇe doṣo na madye na ca maithune
Manusmriti Chapter 5, Verse 31, establishes a foundational rule regarding the consumption of meat in ancient Hindu law, distinguishing between ritualistic consumption and eating for personal pleasure. The Verse and Translation They argue: Manusmriti Chapter 5, Verse 31, establishes
"For one who eats meat that is permitted to be eaten, no penance is prescribed. But in every edible (meat), the death of a living being is certain."