A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Mandans (man-danz) is a term used in Roman law to refer to the principal for whom a mandated person performs a free service. The person who delegates the performance of a mandate to another is called a mandator. In civil law, the mandator is the person who employs another person (called a mandatary or mandatarius) in a free agency. The term mandant is also used to refer to the mandator. In bailment law, the mandator is also known as the bailor.

• John asked his friend Tom to pick up his mail while he was on vacation. John is the mandans, and Tom is the mandatary.
• Susan asked her sister to water her plants while she was away. Susan is the mandans, and her sister is the mandatary.
• Bob gave his car keys to his neighbor to park his car while he was out of town. Bob is the mandans, and his neighbor is the mandatary.

These examples illustrate the concept of mandans and mandatary in civil law. In each case, the mandans (John, Susan, and Bob) delegated a free service to another person (Tom, Susan's sister, and Bob's neighbor) who acted as the mandatary. The mandatary performed the service on behalf of the mandans without receiving any compensation.