Changes

* 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" />

* 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>

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 name=":2">Girija Prasad Dvivedi (1917), [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.343659/page/n27/mode/2up The Manusmriti], Lucknow: Newal Kishore Press.</ref>

== शास्त्रप्रचारः ॥ Propagation of Manusmrti ==

== शास्त्रप्रचारः ॥ Propagation ==

The story of propogation of Manusmrti

The story of propogation of Manusmrti is mentioned in the Manusmrti itself. It is said that Maharshi Bhrgu learnt all the dharmas from Manu. And on his advice, he taught the same to other rshis for the benefit of all that became popular by the name Manusmrti. Infact, this is the reason that the line भृगुप्रोक्तायां संहितायां ॥ ''bhr̥guproktāyāṁ saṁhitāyāṁ'' is found at the end of all the adhyayas in Manusmrti.<blockquote>इदं शास्त्रं तु कृत्वासौ मां एव स्वयं आदितः । विधिवद्ग्राहयां आस मरीच्यादींस्त्वहं मुनीन् । । १.५८ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>एतद्वोऽयं भृगुः शास्त्रं श्रावयिष्यत्यशेसतः । एतद्धि मत्तोऽधिजगे सर्वं एषोऽखिलं मुनिः । । १.५९ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>ततस्तथा स तेनोक्तो महर्षिमनुना भृगुः । तानब्रवीदृषीन्सर्वान्प्रीतात्मा श्रूयतां इति । । १.६० । ।<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%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%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 1]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''idaṁ śāstraṁ tu kr̥tvāsau māṁ eva svayaṁ āditaḥ । vidhivadgrāhayāṁ āsa marīcyādīṁstvahaṁ munīn । । 1.58 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''etadvo'yaṁ bhr̥guḥ śāstraṁ śrāvayiṣyatyaśesataḥ । etaddhi matto'dhijage sarvaṁ eṣo'khilaṁ muniḥ । । 1.59 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tatastathā sa tenokto maharṣimanunā bhr̥guḥ । tānabravīdr̥ṣīnsarvānprītātmā śrūyatāṁ iti । । 1.60 । ।''</blockquote>Also, over the period of time, there have been many commentaries on the Manusmrti out of which the ones by Medhatithi, Sarvajna Narayana, Govindaraja, Kulluka, Raghavananda, Nandana and Ramachandra are well-known.<ref name=":2" />

 

इदं शास्त्रं तु कृत्वासौ मां एव स्वयं आदितः । विधिवद्ग्राहयां आस मरीच्यादींस्त्वहं मुनीन् । । १.५८ । ।

 

एतद्वोऽयं भृगुः शास्त्रं श्रावयिष्यत्यशेसतः । एतद्धि मत्तोऽधिजगे सर्वं एषोऽखिलं मुनिः । । १.५९ । ।

 

ततस्तथा स तेनोक्तो महर्षिमनुना भृगुः । तानब्रवीदृषीन्सर्वान्प्रीतात्मा श्रूयतां इति । । १.६० । ।

 

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.

 

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

 

== Structure and Contents ==

== Structure and Contents ==