Yajnavalkya Smrti (याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृति:)

Vedanga is a class of works regarded as auxiliary to the Vedas and designed to aid in the correct pronunciation and interpretation of the text and the right employment of the Mantras in ceremonials. The Vedangas are six in number—Shiksha (the science of proper articulation and pronunciation), Chandas (the science of prosody), Vyakarana (grammar), Nirukta (etymological explanation of difficult Vedic words), Jyotish (astronomy) and Kalpa (ritual or ceremonial). This Kalpasutra is fourfold namely, Shrautasutra, Grihyasutra, Dharmasutra and Shulvasutra. This Dharmasutra containing the Do's and Dont's of the social life got enlarged as the Dharmashastra or Smrti literature in later years. The Trimuni of Indian Nyaya (Law and Order) are: Narada, Brihaspati and Katyayana.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

According to Swami Harshananda, Yajnavalkya was one of the wisest and the most illustrious among the Vedic sages. He was the son of the sage Brahmarata and a nephew cum disciple of Vaishampayana.

Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa had taught the four Vedas to his four students: Rgveda to Paila, Yajurveda to Vaishampayana, Samaveda to Jaimini and Atharvaveda to Sumantu. Vaishampaya also taught it to his students but once Yajnavalkya incurred the wrath of his Guru and was expelled by him, after surrendering the Yajurveda to him. Later he pleased Surya and got a new lyrical Veda, which came to be known as the Shukla Yajurveda or Vajasaneyi Samhita.

In the scholarly debates on Brahman arranged by the king Janaka Vaideha, he emerged as the best and the most brilliant of all the scholarly Rishis, as recorded in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Chapter Three). He taught spiritual wisdom to his first wife Maitreyi who was a seeker of truth and his second wife was Katyayani.

Two more works are attributed to him: Yoga-yajnavalkya and Yajnavalkya Smrti. Yajnavalkya Smrti is a well-known Smrti belonging to the classical Dharmasastra literature. It is said to be a composition of the famous sage Yajnavalkya, the promulgator of the Shukla Yajurveda Samhita. Its style and ideas seem to be close to this Veda. The present edition as available now was probably finalised by 700 CE, though the original might be placed between 100 BC and 300 CE. Passages from it are found on inscriptions in every part of India dated in the tenth and eleventh centuries after Christ and also in the Panchatantra.

भाष्याणि ॥ Commentaries

It has more than 1000 verses in the classical Anushtubh metre and has five standard commentaries: Dharma-shastra-nibandha by Apararka (1200 CE), Mitramishra (1600 CE), Shulapani (circa 1400 CE), Mitakshara by Vijnaneshvara (circa 1100 CE) and Balakrida by Vishvarupa (800-825 CE).

अध्यायसारः  ॥ Chapter Contents

His institutes are regarded as second in importance to those of Manu. Its contents may be briefly described as follows:

First Adhyaya: Achara (13 Prakaranas – 368 verses)

Upoddhata - Introduction

Brahmachari – The duties of Religious Student

Vivaha - The eight forms of marriage

Varna-jati-viveka – Description of various classes

Grihastha – The duties of a Householder

Snataka-dharma – The proper time for Vedic study and its Consecration

Bhakshya-abhakshya – Articles to be avoided

Dravya-shuddhi – Various instruments for purification

Dana - On giving gifts

Shraddha - Shraddha and its varieties

Ganapati-kalpa – The adoration of Vinayaka

Graha-shanti - The adoration of nine planets

Raja-dharma – The characteristics and duties of a King

Second Adhyaya: Vyavahara (25 Prakaranas – 307 verses)

Sadharana-vyavahara-matrika – Laws and regulations in general

Asadharana-vyavahara-matrika – Specific Laws and regulations

Rinadana - Debts, interest and repayment

Upanidhi – Sealed deposit

Sakshi – The Law of Evidence

Lekhya – Written Document

Divya – Divine Tests

Daya-vibhaga - Partition of property among heirs

Sima-vivada - Boundary disputes

Svami-pala-vivada – Disputes of the keepers

Svami-vikraya – Unlawful sale of articles

Dattapradanika – Non-delivery or resumption of gifts

Kritanushaya

Abhyupetyashyshrusha – Breach of contract or engagement between master and servant

Samvit-vyatikrama – Violation of a contract

Vetanadana – Non-payment of wages

Dyuta-samahvaya - Gambling

Vak-parushya – Defamation

Danda-parushya - Crimes and punishment

Sahasa – Criminal act

Vikriyasampradana – Non-delivery of sold articles

Sambhuya-samutthana – Joint stock companies

Steya - Theft

Stri-samgrahana – Adultery, seduction

Prakirna - Miscellaneous

Third Adhyaya: Prayashchitta (6 Prakaranas – 334 verses)

Aashaucha - On cremation and burial

Aapad-dharma - Rules of conduct in distress

Vanaprastha-dharma – Regulations relating to Vanaprastha

Yati-dharma – Duties of a person who has renounced the world

Prayashchitta - Sins and expiations

Prakirnaka-prayashchittani – Miscellaneous Expiatory rites

उपसंहार: ॥ Conclusion

The text begins with:

योगीश्वरं याज्ञवल्क्यं संपूज्य मुनयोsब्रुवन्/ वर्णाश्रमेतराणां नो ब्रूहि धर्मानशेषत:// yogīśvaraṃ yājñavalkyaṃ saṃpūjya munayo'bruvan/ varṇāśrametarāṇāṃ no brūhi dharmān aśeṣatah//

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.” It concludes with:

श्रुत्वैतद् याज्ञवाल्क्योsपि प्रीतात्मा मुनि-भाषितम्/ एवमस्त्विति होवाच नमस्कृत्य स्वयंभुवे// śrutvaitad yājñavālkyo'pi prītātmā muni-bhāṣitam/ evam astviti hovāca namaskṛtya svayaṃbhuve//

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.”

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.