Changes

* the duties of the various [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|varnas]] and [[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashramas]]  

* the duties of the various [[Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)|varnas]] and [[Ashrama Dharma (आश्रमधर्मः)|ashramas]]  

* forms of [[Marriage (विवाह: संस्कार:)|marriage]] and connected topics

* forms of [[Marriage (विवाह: संस्कार:)|marriage]] and connected topics

* on gifts

* on dana

* [[Shraddha (श्राद्धम्)|Shraddha]] or after-death ceremonies

* [[Shraddha (श्राद्धम्)|Shraddha]] or after-death ceremonies

* Prayashchittas or expiations

* Prayashchittas or expiations

The text begins with the verse:<blockquote>अथातो हिमशैलाग्रे देवदारुवनालये। व्यासमेकाग्रमासीनमपृच्छन्नृषय: पुरा॥<ref name=":0" /> athāto himaśailāgre devadāruvanālaye| vyāsam ekāgram āsīnam apṛcchann ṛṣayah purā||</blockquote>Meaning: On the top of the snowy hill, in the hermitage of the Devadaru grove, the Rishis of yore interrogated Vyasa, who was seated, rapt in thought<ref name=":1">B. Vaitheeswaran (2009), Parashara Smrithi, Tamilnadu: Sri Hayagreeva Veda Gurukula Trust.</ref>.

The text begins with the verse:<blockquote>अथातो हिमशैलाग्रे देवदारुवनालये। व्यासमेकाग्रमासीनमपृच्छन्नृषय: पुरा॥<ref name=":0" /> athāto himaśailāgre devadāruvanālaye| vyāsam ekāgram āsīnam apṛcchann ṛṣayah purā||</blockquote>Meaning: On the top of the snowy hill, in the hermitage of the Devadaru grove, the Rishis of yore interrogated Vyasa, who was seated, rapt in thought<ref name=":1">B. Vaitheeswaran (2009), Parashara Smrithi, Tamilnadu: Sri Hayagreeva Veda Gurukula Trust.</ref>.

Parashara concludes the text with the following verse:<blockquote>यथाsध्ययनकर्माणि धर्मशास्त्रमिदं तथा। अध्येतव्यं प्रयत्नेन नियतं स्वर्गकामिना॥<ref name=":0" /> Yathā’dhyayanakarmāṇi dharmaśāstram idaṃ tathā| adhyetavyaṃ prayatnena niyataṃ svargakāminā||</blockquote>Meaning: In accordance with the rules for studying (similar works), these institutes of [[Nyaya (न्यायः)|law]] should be carefully studied, without fail, by a person who desires to go to heaven.<ref name=":1" />

Parashara concludes the text with the following verse:<blockquote>यथाsध्ययनकर्माणि धर्मशास्त्रमिदं तथा। अध्येतव्यं प्रयत्नेन नियतं स्वर्गकामिना॥<ref name=":0" /> Yathā’dhyayanakarmāṇi dharmaśāstram idaṃ tathā| adhyetavyaṃ prayatnena niyataṃ svargakāminā||</blockquote>Meaning: In accordance with the rules for studying (similar works), these institutes of [[Nyaya (न्यायः)|law]] should be carefully studied, without fail, by a person who desires to go to svarga.<ref name=":1" />

Infact, the Dharmashastras should be gone through very seriously as they are the keys to understand the culture of contemporary India. They provide a rare peep into the minds of the lawmakers and the society.  

Infact, the Dharmashastras should be gone through very seriously as they are the keys to understand the culture of contemporary India. They provide a rare peep into the minds of the lawmakers and the society.