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Line 19: − + − The broadest division of the texts of Apastamba and Baudhayana is termed "Prashna". Each prashna is divided into sections called "kandika" and "khanda" respectively. Further divisions are called "patala" in Apastamba sutras and "adhyayas" in Baudhayana. Texts of Gautama and Vasishta are divided simply into "adhyayas". The smallest division of all these documents is into "sutras". −
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The Dharmasutras are named after their authors, the four prominent being Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama and Vashistha. A significant issue of authorship of these texts is complicated by the fact that, they contain numerous spurious additions made at later times as determined by the scholarly community based on certain linguistic studies. Apastamba Kalpasutra is said to be best preserved with least amount of interpolations and interventions. Geographical references, inscriptional evidence, textual references, linguistic archaism, personal views of the authors themselves are aspects of extensive discussions in the scholarly community.
The Dharmasutras are named after their authors, the four prominent being Apastamba, Baudhayana, Gautama and Vashistha. A significant issue of authorship of these texts is complicated by the fact that, they contain numerous spurious additions made at later times as determined by the scholarly community based on certain linguistic studies. Apastamba Kalpasutra is said to be best preserved with least amount of interpolations and interventions. Geographical references, inscriptional evidence, textual references, linguistic archaism, personal views of the authors themselves are aspects of extensive discussions in the scholarly community.
=== Textual Divisions ===
=== Dharmasutras and Commentaries ===
The word dharmasutra means the sutras dealing with dharma. Given the brevity of each sutra, it is mostly impossible to understand the meaning without the context and required an oral explanation (as in the early days) or commentary.<ref name=":1" />
The word dharmasutra means the sutras dealing with dharma. Given the brevity of each sutra, it is mostly impossible to understand the meaning without the context and required an oral explanation (as in the early days) or commentary.<ref name=":1" />