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
21 (of 24)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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21
which under the influence of external circumstances might
attain considerable importance. According to the old indu
view this racial law was not only binding upon the members
of the racial branch but was also determinant of all legal
relations that arose within the territory occupied by the
branch. Men knew no law other than their own, where they
could not and would not apply that, there was no law at all.
Law as determined solely by personal, not by territoria.
bonds of mutual dependence, yet the conception of territorial
law, is not altogether foreign to the Hindu system".
蹖丕乇
The Mahabharata itself states that it is a great
Kamasastra.55
Dharmasastra, Arthas膩stra and K膩ma艣膩stra.
56 There is
The
close relation between the Mahabharata and the Smrtis.
Vrddhagautama smrti, the Brhaspati smrti and the Yamasmrti
originally formed parts of the Mahabharata. Some of the
earliest Dharmasutras refer to the pur膩nas that testify
their popularity. Caland found close relation between the
Markandeyapur膩na and the Gautamasmrti between Visnudharmo-
ttara Pur膩na and the Visnusmrti, between the Kurmapurana
and the Usanasa smrti and between the Brahmapurana and the
rites of the Kathas.
57 54. R.B. Pal, The History of Hindu Law. 1958, p. 21.
55.
artha艣astramida峁� prokta峁� dharmasastramida峁� manat
k膩masastramida峁� prokta峁� vyasen膩mita buddhina //
M.Bh.Adi: 11.95.
56. R.B. Pandey, Hindu Sa峁僺k膩ras, 1969.
57.
R.B. Pandey, Hindu Sa峁僺k膩ras, 1969.
