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Rishi Yajnavalkya's institutes are regarded as second in importance to those of Manu. Its contents<ref>Narayana Ram Acharya ‘Kavyatirtha’ (1985), Yajnavalkyasmrti, Delhi: Nag Publishers</ref> may be briefly described as follows:

Rishi Yajnavalkya's institutes are regarded as second in importance to those of Manu. Its contents<ref>Narayana Ram Acharya ‘Kavyatirtha’ (1985), Yajnavalkyasmrti, Delhi: Nag Publishers</ref> may be briefly described as follows:

=== प्रथमाध्याय: आचार: ॥ '''First Adhyaya: Achara'''  ===

=== प्रथमाध्याय: आचार: ॥ First Adhyaya: Achara ===

'''(13 Prakaranas – 368 verses)'''

(13 Prakaranas – 368 verses)

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!Prakarana

!Prakarana

|}

|}

=== द्वितीयाध्याय: व्यवहार: ॥ '''Second Adhyaya: Vyavahara'''  ===

=== द्वितीयाध्याय: व्यवहार: ॥ Second Adhyaya: Vyavahara ===

'''(25 Prakaranas – 307 verses)'''

(25 Prakaranas – 307 verses)

Sadharana-vyavahara-matrika – Laws and regulations in general

Sadharana-vyavahara-matrika – Laws and regulations in general

Prakirna - Miscellaneous

Prakirna - Miscellaneous

=== '''तृतीयाध्याय: प्रायश्चितम्॥ Third Adhyaya: Prayashchitta (6 Prakaranas – 334 verses)''' ===

=== तृतीयाध्याय: प्रायश्चितम्॥ Third Adhyaya: Prayashchitta ===

(6 Prakaranas – 334 verses)

 

Aashaucha - On cremation and burial

Aashaucha - On cremation and burial

== उपसंहार: ॥ Conclusion ==

== उपसंहार: ॥ Conclusion ==

The text begins with:<blockquote>योगीश्वरं याज्ञवल्क्यं संपूज्य मुनयोsब्रुवन्/ वर्णाश्रमेतराणां नो ब्रूहि धर्मानशेषत:// yogīśvaraṃ yājñavalkyaṃ saṃpūjya munayo'bruvan/ varṇāśrametarāṇāṃ no brūhi dharmān aśeṣatah//</blockquote>Meaning: Having adored Yajnavalkya, the lord of Yogins (ascetics), the Munis (anchorites) said: “Do thou describe unto us in full, the religious rites of Varnas (four castes), ashramas (four orders), and (those of) other inferior castes.”<ref name=":0">Manmatha Nath Dutt (1906), Yajnawalkya Samhita, Calcutta: Elysium Press</ref>

The text begins with:<blockquote>योगीश्वरं याज्ञवल्क्यं संपूज्य मुनयोsब्रुवन् । वर्णाश्रमेतराणां नो ब्रूहि धर्मानशेषत: ॥{{Citation needed}} yogīśvaraṃ yājñavalkyaṃ saṃpūjya munayo'bruvan । varṇāśrametarāṇāṃ no brūhi dharmān aśeṣatah ॥</blockquote>Meaning: Having adored Yajnavalkya, the lord of Yogins (ascetics), the Munis (anchorites) said: “Do thou describe unto us in full, the religious rites of Varnas (four castes), ashramas (four orders), and (those of) other inferior castes.”<ref name=":0">Manmatha Nath Dutt (1906), Yajnawalkya Samhita, Calcutta: Elysium Press</ref>  

It concludes with:<blockquote>श्रुत्वैतद् याज्ञवाल्क्योsपि प्रीतात्मा मुनि-भाषितम्/ एवमस्त्विति होवाच नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवे// śrutvaitad yājñavālkyo'pi prītātmā muni-bhāṣitam/ evam astviti hovāca namaskṛtya svayaṃbhuve//</blockquote>Meaning: He, who will make the twice-born listen to it on every Parva-day, will reap the fruits of a Horse-Sacrifice. Do thou accede to this our request. Hearing the speech of the ascetics and being delighted, Yajnavalkya, too, saluting the Self-sprung Brahma, said “so be it.”<ref name=":0" />

It concludes with:<blockquote>श्रुत्वैतद् याज्ञवाल्क्योsपि प्रीतात्मा मुनि-भाषितम् । एवमस्त्विति होवाच नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवे ॥{{Citation needed}} śrutvaitad yājñavālkyo'pi prītātmā muni-bhāṣitam । evam astviti hovāca namaskṛtya svayaṃbhuve ॥</blockquote>Meaning: He, who will make the twice-born listen to it on every Parva-day, will reap the fruits of a Horse-Sacrifice. Do thou accede to this our request. Hearing the speech of the ascetics and being delighted, Yajnavalkya, too, saluting the Self-sprung Brahma, said “so be it.”<ref name=":0" />

Thus, Yajnavalkya Smrti provides a thorough and chronological insight into the then societal fabric along with its local customs, law and order and expiation traditions.  

Thus, Yajnavalkya Smrti provides a thorough and chronological insight into the then societal fabric along with its local customs, law and order and expiation traditions.  

== References ==

== References ==