Changes

Kurma Purana describing what dharmas are to be followed mentions that  Shrauta dharmas involving the tretagni are the most advisable followed by Smarta dharmas. When both Shruti and Smrti texts are unavailable (in unusual situations), Shistachara forms the third kind of dharma that is taken as standard for enforcing dharma.<ref name=":5">Kurma Purana, Hindi Translation. Gorakhpur: Gita Press. (Page 371)</ref><blockquote>श्रौतस्त्रेताग्निसंबन्धात् स्मार्त्तः पूर्वं मयोदितः । श्रेयस्करतमः श्रौतस्तस्माच्छ्रौतं समाचरेत् ।। २४.१५ </blockquote><blockquote>śrautastrētāgnisaṁbandhāt smārttaḥ pūrvaṁ mayōditaḥ । śrēyaskaratamaḥ śrautastasmācchrautaṁ samācarēt ।। 24.15</blockquote><blockquote>उभावभिहितौ धर्मौ वेदवेदविनिःसृतौ । शिष्टाचारस्तृतीयः स्याच्छ्रतिस्मृत्योरलाभतः ।। २४.१६ (Kurm. Pura. 24.15-16)<ref name=":6">Kurma Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4 Uttarabhaga Adhyaya 24])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>ubhāvabhihitau dharmau vēdavēdaviniḥsr̥tau । śiṣṭācārastr̥tīyaḥ syācchratismr̥tyōralābhataḥ ।। 24.16 (Kurm. Pura. 24.15-16)</blockquote>Thus it is to be noted that Shistachara is also one source of knowing dharma that is to be followed in particular situations when the same cannot be understood from the vedic and smrti texts.

Kurma Purana describing what dharmas are to be followed mentions that  Shrauta dharmas involving the tretagni are the most advisable followed by Smarta dharmas. When both Shruti and Smrti texts are unavailable (in unusual situations), Shistachara forms the third kind of dharma that is taken as standard for enforcing dharma.<ref name=":5">Kurma Purana, Hindi Translation. Gorakhpur: Gita Press. (Page 371)</ref><blockquote>श्रौतस्त्रेताग्निसंबन्धात् स्मार्त्तः पूर्वं मयोदितः । श्रेयस्करतमः श्रौतस्तस्माच्छ्रौतं समाचरेत् ।। २४.१५ </blockquote><blockquote>śrautastrētāgnisaṁbandhāt smārttaḥ pūrvaṁ mayōditaḥ । śrēyaskaratamaḥ śrautastasmācchrautaṁ samācarēt ।। 24.15</blockquote><blockquote>उभावभिहितौ धर्मौ वेदवेदविनिःसृतौ । शिष्टाचारस्तृतीयः स्याच्छ्रतिस्मृत्योरलाभतः ।। २४.१६ (Kurm. Pura. 24.15-16)<ref name=":6">Kurma Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4 Uttarabhaga Adhyaya 24])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>ubhāvabhihitau dharmau vēdavēdaviniḥsr̥tau । śiṣṭācārastr̥tīyaḥ syācchratismr̥tyōralābhataḥ ।। 24.16 (Kurm. Pura. 24.15-16)</blockquote>Thus it is to be noted that Shistachara is also one source of knowing dharma that is to be followed in particular situations when the same cannot be understood from the vedic and smrti texts.

=== शिष्टाचारः ॥ Shistachara ===

=== शिष्टः ॥ Shista ===

Shistachara is founded in turn on Shrutis and Smrtis (which are again based on Shrutis). Kurma Purana and Manu define who a शिष्टाचारः or a person of virtuous conduct is, as follows<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>धर्मेणाधिगतो यैस्तु वेदः सपरिबृंहणः । ते शिष्टा ब्राह्मणाः प्रोक्ता नित्यमात्मगुणान्विताः ।। २४.१७ </blockquote><blockquote>dharmēṇādhigatō yaistu vēdaḥ saparibr̥ṁhaṇaḥ । tē śiṣṭā brāhmaṇāḥ prōktā nityamātmaguṇānvitāḥ ।। 24.17</blockquote><blockquote>तेषामभिमतो यः स्याच्चेतसा नित्यमेव हि । स धर्मः कथितः सद्भिर्नान्येषामिति धारणा ।। २४.१८ (Kurm. Pura. 24.17-18)<ref name=":6" /></blockquote><blockquote>tēṣāmabhimatō yaḥ syāccētasā nityamēva hi । sa dharmaḥ kathitaḥ sadbhirnānyēṣāmiti dhāraṇā ।। 24.18 (Kurm. Pura. 24.17-18)</blockquote>One who is knowledgeable in the dharmic concepts given in Vedas and Paribhrimhanas (परिबृंहणः । Includes the vedic extensions such as Ramayana and Mahabharata Itihasas and Purana texts), and who is filled with Atmagunas (such as Ahimsa, Daya, Satya and eight such others) engrossed in pursuing the knowledge of Brahman (Brahmana) is called Shista (शिष्टः). It is laid down that the views  (policies) held by these Shistas, which are ever present in their Antakarana (Chetas), are called Dharma by scholarly people and do not constitute the views of those who live otherwise.<ref name=":5" />

Shistachara means the aachara (traditional lifestyle) of a Shista. It is founded in turn on Shrutis and Smrtis (which are again based on Shrutis). Kurma Purana and Manu define who a शिष्टः or a person of virtuous conduct is, as follows<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>धर्मेणाधिगतो यैस्तु वेदः सपरिबृंहणः । ते शिष्टा ब्राह्मणाः प्रोक्ता नित्यमात्मगुणान्विताः ।। २४.१७ (Kurm. Pura. 24.17) </blockquote><blockquote>dharmēṇādhigatō yaistu vēdaḥ saparibr̥ṁhaṇaḥ । tē śiṣṭā brāhmaṇāḥ prōktā nityamātmaguṇānvitāḥ ।। 24.17</blockquote><blockquote>तेषामभिमतो यः स्याच्चेतसा नित्यमेव हि । स धर्मः कथितः सद्भिर्नान्येषामिति धारणा ।। २४.१८ (Kurm. Pura. 24.18)<ref name=":6" /></blockquote><blockquote>tēṣāmabhimatō yaḥ syāccētasā nityamēva hi । sa dharmaḥ kathitaḥ sadbhirnānyēṣāmiti dhāraṇā ।। 24.18 (Kurm. Pura. 24.18)</blockquote>One who is knowledgeable in the dharmik concepts given in Vedas and Paribhrimhanas (परिबृंहणः । Includes the vedic extensions such as Ramayana and Mahabharata Itihasas and Purana texts), and who is filled with Atmagunas (such as Ahimsa, Daya, Satya and eight such others) engrossed in pursuing the knowledge of Brahman (Brahmana) is called Shista (शिष्टः). It is laid down that the views  (policies) held by these Shistas, which are ever present in their Antakarana (Chetas), are called Dharma by scholarly people and do not constitute the views of those who live (or do not have the moral qualities) otherwise.<ref name=":5" />

==== शिष्टानां स्वरूपम् ॥ Qualities of Shista Brahmanas ====

==== शिष्टानां स्वरूपम् ॥ Qualities of Shista Brahmanas ====