Essay name: Vishnu Smriti (Study)
Author:
Minu Bhattacharjee
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Vishnu-Smriti: an ancient Sanskrit Sutra dealing with the rules of various traditions and customs such as Dharmashastra, Caste, Monarchy, Law, Penances and Asceticism. The Vishnu-smriti in one hundred chapters is presented in the form of a dialogue between Vishnu and Prithvi (the goddess Earth).
Chapter 1 - Introduction
20 (of 24)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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20
(drstartha岣�), matters those which deal with both visible
and unseen, those based on reasoning or equity (nyayamulah)
and those which merely recapitulate what has been stated,
by the elites (sista岣�). The political portions of a sm峁泃i
like Manu's e.g. the six expedients or sa岣峠unaya and four
means (upaya) come under these which deal with visible re-
sults. Such portions have not absolute validity, while
the others have it, because the latter have their source
52 (by presumption) in the veda (Vedmulah). It is stated
in the Vasistha dharmasutra that 'Manu has declared the
peculiar laws of countries, castes and families may be
followed in the absence of rule of the 艣ruti. Scholars
like Radhabinod pal opines in the Tagore Law Lectures 1930,
"Hindu Law was no doubt a racial law in one sense, the
laws of the individual Vedic branches had originated in
and developed upon a basis of common habit and legal con-
viction, though they nevertheless may reveal many variations
53 52. Krtya kalpataru. Vol. I. Brahmacarik膩nda intro. p. 31.
Cf. Bhavisya
drstartha smrti岣� k膩cid ad峁泂t膩rth膩 tath膩par膩 /
drst盲drstartha r奴p膩ny膩 ny膩yamu奴l膩 tath膩par膩
anuvada sm峁泃astavanya sistaird峁泂t膩 tu pa帽cam墨
sarv膩 et膩 vedam奴l膩 d峁泂t膩rth膩 parih峁泃yatu //
53. desadharmaj膩tidharma kuladharman srutyabh膩v膩da
brav墨n-manu岣� !
Vasistha 1.8-9.
