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== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parashara are some of the most celebrated law-givers of Bharata. Bharatiya society is founded on, and governed by, the laws made by these three great rishis. The granthas that enumerate these law codes are termed as Smrtis and many of them are named after their authors. Thus, we have texts like  

Manu, Yajnavalkya and Parashara are some of the most celebrated law-givers of Bharata. Bharatiya society is founded on, and governed by, the laws made by these three great rishis. The granthas that enumerate these law codes are termed as Smrtis and many of them are named after their authors. Thus, we have texts like  

It is said that the laws of Manu were intended for the Satya Yuga, those of Yajnavalkya for the Treta Yuga, those of Sankha and Likhita for the Dvapara Yuga and those of Parashara for the Kali Yuga. All of them contain code of conduct for mankind. And among them, Manusmrti is noted as the ancient most. Yajnavalkya Smrti follows on similar lines as the Manusmrti and the two are accepted as authoritative works on law all over Bharata.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>

It is said that the laws of Manu were intended for the Satya Yuga, those of Yajnavalkya for the Treta Yuga, those of Sankha and Likhita for the Dvapara Yuga and those of Parashara for the Kali Yuga. All of them contain code of conduct for mankind. And among them, Manusmrti is noted as the ancient most. Yajnavalkya Smrti follows on similar lines as the Manusmrti and the two are accepted as authoritative works on law all over Bharata.<ref>Swami Sivananda (1999), [http://www.dlshq.org/download/hinduismbk.pdf All About Hinduism], Uttar Pradesh: The Divine Life Society.</ref>

== महत्त्वं प्राचीनत्वं च ॥ Importance and Antiquity<ref>Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n27/mode/2up The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref> ==

== महत्त्वं प्राचीनत्वं च ॥ Importance and Antiquity ==

It is said that by the term Smrti is denoted Dharmashastra.<blockquote>श्रुतिस्तु वेदो विज्ञेयो धर्मशास्त्रं तु वै स्मृतिः । २.१० ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2]</ref> ''śrutistu vedo vijñeyo dharmaśāstraṁ tu vai smr̥tiḥ । 2.10 ।''</blockquote>And there are as many as 71 smrtis enlisted in various smrti texts. Among them, the code of laws known as Manusmrti, ascribed to the first Manu named Svayambhuva Manu, is considered the foremost.<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1985), [https://archive.org/details/practicalsanskri00apteuoft/page/740/mode/2up The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref> Infact, according to Brhaspati, the importance of Manusmrti is due to it collecting the essence of the Vedas. And hence, any smrti that goes tangential to Manusmrti is considered unpraiseworthy.<blockquote>वेदार्थोपनिबद्धत्वात्प्राधान्यं हि मनोः स्मृतम् । मन्वर्थविपरीता तु या स्मृतिः सा न शस्यते ॥<ref name=":0">Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83_(%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE) Manvarthamuktavali Samvalita])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''vedārthopanibaddhatvātprādhānyaṁ hi manoḥ smr̥tam । manvarthaviparītā tu yā smr̥tiḥ sā na śasyate ॥''</blockquote>Moreover, the praise of Manu's tenets are obtained in the shrutis itself that are the basis for all smrtis.<blockquote>मनुर्वै यत् किंचावदत्तद् भेषजं एवावदत्, तद् भेषजत्वायैव । 2.1.5 ।<ref>Maitrayani Samhita, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7 Prapathaka 1]</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''manurvai yat kiṁcāvadattad bheṣajaṁ evāvadat, tad bheṣajatvāyaiva । 2.1.5 ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Whatever is proposed by Manu is to be taken like medicine.  

It is said that by the term Smrti is denoted Dharmashastra.<blockquote>श्रुतिस्तु वेदो विज्ञेयो धर्मशास्त्रं तु वै स्मृतिः । २.१० ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 2]</ref> ''śrutistu vedo vijñeyo dharmaśāstraṁ tu vai smr̥tiḥ । 2.10 ।''</blockquote>And there are as many as 71 smrtis enlisted in various smrti texts. Among them, the code of laws known as Manusmrti, ascribed to the first Manu named Svayambhuva Manu, is considered the foremost.<ref>Vaman Shivram Apte (1985), [https://archive.org/details/practicalsanskri00apteuoft/page/740/mode/2up The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref> Infact, according to Brhaspati, the importance of Manusmrti is due to it collecting the essence of the Vedas. And hence, any smrti that goes tangential to Manusmrti is considered unpraiseworthy.<blockquote>वेदार्थोपनिबद्धत्वात्प्राधान्यं हि मनोः स्मृतम् । मन्वर्थविपरीता तु या स्मृतिः सा न शस्यते ॥<ref name=":0">Manusmrti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83_(%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE) Manvarthamuktavali Samvalita])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''vedārthopanibaddhatvātprādhānyaṁ hi manoḥ smr̥tam । manvarthaviparītā tu yā smr̥tiḥ sā na śasyate ॥''</blockquote>Moreover, the praise of Manu's tenets are obtained in the shrutis itself that are the basis for all smrtis.<blockquote>मनुर्वै यत् किंचावदत्तद् भेषजं एवावदत्, तद् भेषजत्वायैव । 2.1.5 ।<ref>Maitrayani Samhita, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A7 Prapathaka 1]</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>''manurvai yat kiṁcāvadattad bheṣajaṁ evāvadat, tad bheṣajatvāyaiva । 2.1.5 ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Whatever is proposed by Manu is to be taken like medicine.  

Similar saying on Manusmrti is also said to be found in the Mahabharata. <blockquote>पुराणं मानवो धर्मः साङ्गो वेदश्चिकित्सितम् । आज्ञासिद्धानि चत्वारि न हन्तव्यानि हेतुभिः ॥<ref name=":0" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''purāṇaṁ mānavo dharmaḥ sāṅgo vedaścikitsitam । ājñāsiddhāni catvāri na hantavyāni hetubhiḥ ॥''</blockquote>Also, the knowledge of dharma passed on by Manu and his shishya parampara is seen in the form of quotations in other smrti texts that go by the name of Manu.

Similar saying on Manusmrti is also said to be found in the Mahabharata. <blockquote>पुराणं मानवो धर्मः साङ्गो वेदश्चिकित्सितम् । आज्ञासिद्धानि चत्वारि न हन्तव्यानि हेतुभिः ॥<ref name=":0" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''purāṇaṁ mānavo dharmaḥ sāṅgo vedaścikitsitam । ājñāsiddhāni catvāri na hantavyāni hetubhiḥ ॥''</blockquote>Also, the knowledge of dharma passed on by Manu and his shishya parampara is seen in the form of quotations in other smrti texts like the Parashara Smrti. In fact, the following two verses from the Manusmrti is found in the Valmiki Ramayana. <blockquote>शासनाद्वा विमोक्षाद्वा स्तेनः स्तेयाद्विमुच्यते । अशासित्वा तु तं राजा स्तेनस्याप्नोति किल्बिषम् । । ८.३१६ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>राजभिः कृतदण्डास्तु कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः । निर्मलाः स्वर्गं आयान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा । । ८.३१८ । ।<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 8]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''śāsanādvā vimokṣādvā stenaḥ steyādvimucyate । aśāsitvā tu taṁ rājā stenasyāpnoti kilbiṣam । । 8.316 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''rājabhiḥ kr̥tadaṇḍāstu kr̥tvā pāpāni mānavāḥ । nirmalāḥ svargaṁ āyānti santaḥ sukr̥tino yathā । । 8.318 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning:

 

 

The Parashara Smrti says,

 

 

 

 

The following two verses from the Manusmrti is found in the Ramayana

शासनाद्वा विमोक्षाद्वा स्तेनः स्तेयाद्विमुच्यते । अशासित्वा तु तं राजा स्तेनस्याप्नोति किल्बिषम् । । ८.३१६ । ।

In the Kishkindhakanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, Rama quotes the above verses from the Manusmrti as those given by Manu as follows. He says,<blockquote>श्रूयते मनुना गीतौ श्लोकौ चारित्र वत्सलौ ॥ गृहीतौ धर्म कुशलैः तथा तत् चरितम् मया ॥४.१८.३०॥</blockquote><blockquote>राजभिः धृत दण्डाः च कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः । निर्मलाः स्वर्गम् आयान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा ॥४.१८.३१॥</blockquote><blockquote>शसनात् वा अपि मोक्षात् वा स्तेनः पापात् प्रमुच्यते । राजा तु अशासन् पापस्य तद् आप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥४.१८.३२॥<ref name=":1">Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, [http://valmikiramayan.pcriot.com/utf8/kish/sarga18/kishkindha_18_frame.htm Sarga 18]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''śrūyate manunā gītau ślokau cāritra vatsalau ॥ gr̥hītau dharma kuśalaiḥ tathā tat caritam mayā ॥4.18.30॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''rājabhiḥ dhr̥ta daṇḍāḥ ca kr̥tvā pāpāni mānavāḥ । nirmalāḥ svargam āyānti santaḥ sukr̥tino yathā ॥4.18.31॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''śasanāt vā api mokṣāt vā stenaḥ pāpāt pramucyate । rājā tu aśāsan pāpasya tad āpnoti kilbiṣam ॥4.18.32॥''</blockquote>Meaning:

* We hear two verses that are given to the advocacy of good conventions, which the experts of rightness have also accepted, and which are said to be coined by Manu, and I too conducted myself only as detailed in those verses of law.

राजभिः कृतदण्डास्तु कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः । निर्मलाः स्वर्गं आयान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा । । ८.३१८ । ।

* 'When rulers impose proper punishment on people who have committed crime, they become freed of the 'Papa' and enter svarga just as the pious people with good deeds do', says one verse of Manu.

It is said in the kishkindhakanda of the Valmiki Ramayana

* Either by punishment or by mercy a thief will be absolved from 'papa' but the ruler who does not impose proper punishment will derive the blot of that 'papa', says the other verse of Manu.<ref name=":1" />

 

It is seen here that though some 'pathabheda' (change in text) has crept over the period of time, the meaning of these verses in Manusmrti and the Valmiki Ramayana is the same. This shows that Manusmrti was prevalent in the times of Valmiki. Thus, Manusmrti is an ancient Smrti shastra whose verses are found in the Valmiki Ramayana as well as other smrti texts.<ref>Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n27/mode/2up The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>

 

 

 

Though some pathabheda has crept over the period of time, the meaning of these verses is the same. This shows that it was this Manusmrti that was prevalent in the times of Valmiki.

 

Manusmrti is an ancient smrti shastra. Its verses are found in the Valmiki Ramayana as well as other smrti texts.

 

There have been many commentaries on the Manusmrti out of which the ones by Medhatithi, Sarvajna Narayana, Govindaraja, Kulluka, Raghavaananda, Nandana and Ramachandra are well-known.  

 

== शास्त्रप्रचारः ॥ Propagation of Manusmrti ==

== शास्त्रप्रचारः ॥ Propagation of Manusmrti ==

It is mentioned in the Manusmrti itself that Maharshi Bhrgu learnt all the dharmas from Manu and on his advice, he taught the same to other rshis and versified it for the benefit of all that became popular by the name Manusmrti. It is hence that the line भृगुप्रोक्तायां संहितायां is found at the end of all adhyayas in Manusmrti.  

It is mentioned in the Manusmrti itself that Maharshi Bhrgu learnt all the dharmas from Manu and on his advice, he taught the same to other rshis and versified it for the benefit of all that became popular by the name Manusmrti. It is hence that the line भृगुप्रोक्तायां संहितायां is found at the end of all adhyayas in Manusmrti.  

(Manusmrti - Girija Prasad Dwivedi)

(Manusmrti - Girija Prasad Dwivedi)