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{{ToBeEdited}}Manusmrti (Samskrit: मनुस्मृतिः) is the name of the text written by Manu or Manavacharya known as the father of mankind that prescribes code of conduct with a view to establish a harmonious social life.<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/480/mode/2up Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref> {{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsyPY7jQJ24&feature=youtu.be

{{ToBeEdited}}Manusmrti (Samskrit: मनुस्मृतिः) is the name of the text written by Manu or Manavacharya known as the father of mankind that prescribes code of conduct with a view to establish a harmonious social life.<ref name=":3">Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/480/mode/2up Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref> {{#evu:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsyPY7jQJ24&feature=youtu.be

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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" />  

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" />  

== Structure and Contents ==

== ग्रन्थरचना विषयाश्च ॥ Structure and Contents ==

The book contains twelve chapters.

Manusmrti contains twelve adhyayas or chapters. The contents of each of these chapters in brief along with the number of verses contained in each chapter are given below:

 

The contents of each of the other eleven chapters are given below:

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

!Adhyaya

!Adhyaya

!Contents

!Contents<ref name=":3" />

!Number of Shlokas

!Number of Shlokas<ref name=":2" />

|-

|-

|1

|1

|The first chapter deals with the origin of the smṛti and the origin of the world. No other smṛti begins like this and so it is believed that this chapter must have been added to it later.

|The first chapter deals with origin of the smrti and origin of the world. Infact, this is a special feature of Manusmrti to be noted as no other smrti begins in this manner.

|119

|119

|-

|-

|2

|2

|Second chapter. It deals with the sense organs and stresses the importance of conquering and controlling them. It describes the qualities of a brahmana.

|The Second chapter deals with the Indriyas (sense organs) and stresses the importance of conquering and controlling them. It also describes the qualities of a brahmana.

|249

|249

|-

|-

|3

|3

|Third chapter. It contains the duties of a householder after his course of study of the Vedas. Eight different kinds of marriages are described in it. It also deals with methods of giving protection to women and children.

|The Third chapter contains the duties of a householder after his course of study of the Vedas. Eight different kinds of marriages are described in it. It further also deals with methods of giving protection to women and children.

|286

|286

|-

|-

|4

|4

|Fourth chapter. Duties of a brāhmaṇa, study of the Vedas and responsibilities of a Snātaka are all described in this chapter.

|The Fourth chapter includes duties of a brahmana, study of the Vedas and responsibilities of a Snataka, etc.  

|260

|260

|-

|-

|5

|5

|Fifth chapter. This deals with pure and impure foods, impurity and methods of purification, women and their responsibilities.

|The Fifth chapter deals with pure and impure foods, concept of impurity and methods of purification, women and their responsibilities.

|169

|169

|-

|-

|6

|6

|Sixth Chapter. This contains the duties of those who have entered the āśhrama of vānaprastha and also of ascetics.

|The Sixth Chapter contains duties of those who have entered the ashrama of vanaprastha and also of ascetics.

|96

|96

|-

|-

|7

|7

|Seventh chapter. It deals with the duties of Rulers and ministers.

|The Seventh chapter deals with duties of Rulers and ministers.

|226

|226

|-

|-

|8

|8

|Eighth chapter. It deals with law and justice. It contains laws for the proper conduct of justice and includes ways and means of settling disputes and handling cases of debts, sale without right, partnership, duels, theft, prostitution, boundary disputes and all such matters as are to be decided by a court of law.

|The Eighth chapter deals with law and justice. It contains laws for the proper conduct of justice and includes ways and means of settling disputes and handling cases of debts, sale without right, partnership, duels, theft, prostitution, boundary disputes and all such matters as are to be decided by a court of law.

|420

|420

|-

|-

|9

|9

|Ninth chapter. It deals with the duties of a husband and wife. It also contains matters relating to property rights, partition and the duties of a Raja with regard to these.

|The Ninth chapter deals with the duties of a husband and wife. It also contains matters relating to property rights, partition and the duties of a ruler with regard to these.

|336

|336

|-

|-

|10

|10

|Tenth chapter. It deals with the duties of the different varnas, mixed varnas and the duties of one in times of danger.

|The Tenth chapter deals with duties of the different varnas, mixed varnas and the duties of one in times of danger.

|131

|131

|-

|-

|11

|11

|Eleventh chapter. It deals first with penance, observation of Vratas, Yāgas, Yajñas and fee to the priests. It then deals with punishments of crimes, expiation for murder, prostitution etc.

|The Eleventh chapter deals first with penance, observation of Vratas, Yagas, Yajnas and dakshina to the priests. It then deals with punishments of crimes, expiation for murder, prostitution etc.

|266

|266

|-

|-

|12

|12

|Twelfth chapter. It deals with the theory of births and describes how your deeds in the present life are directive of the nature of life of your next birth. What deeds would fetch you what life is also explained. It contains instructions on Ātmajñāna and the way to obtain mokṣa (absolute bliss).

|The Twelfth chapter deals with the theory of births and describes how your deeds in the present life are directive of the nature of life of your next birth; What deeds would fetch you what life is also explained. It contains instructions on Atmajnana and the way to obtain moksha (absolute bliss).

|126

|126

|}

|}

== Topic-wise index of Manusmrti ==

== Topic-wise index of Manusmrti ==

Manusmrti - Girija Prasad Dwivedi

Manusmrti - Girija Prasad Dwivedi