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== महत्त्वं प्राचीनत्वं च ॥ Importance and Antiquity ==

== महत्त्वं प्राचीनत्वं च ॥ Importance and Antiquity ==

It is said that by the term Smrti is denoted [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|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 (वेदाः)|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 [[Shruti (श्रुतिः)|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 [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|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 (वेदाः)|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>

Similar saying on Manusmrti is also said to be found in the [[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|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 (धर्मः)|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 Rshi (वाल्मीकि ऋषिः)|Valmiki]] [[Ramayana (रामायणम्)|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:  

 

 

Similar saying on Manusmrti is also said to be found in the [[Mahabharata (महाभारतम्)|Mahabharata]]. <blockquote>पुराणं मानवो धर्मः साङ्गो वेदश्चिकित्सितम् । आज्ञासिद्धानि चत्वारि न हन्तव्यानि हेतुभिः ॥<ref name=":0" />  

 

''purāṇaṁ mānavo dharmaḥ sāṅgo vedaścikitsitam । ājñāsiddhāni catvāri na hantavyāni hetubhiḥ ॥'' </blockquote>Also, the knowledge of [[Dharma (धर्मः)|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 Rshi (वाल्मीकि ऋषिः)|Valmiki]] [[Ramayana (रामायणम्)|Ramayana]]. <blockquote>शासनाद्वा विमोक्षाद्वा स्तेनः स्तेयाद्विमुच्यते । अशासित्वा तु तं राजा स्तेनस्याप्नोति किल्बिषम् । । ८.३१६ । ।

 

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>

 

''śāsanādvā vimokṣādvā stenaḥ steyādvimucyate । aśāsitvā tu taṁ rājā stenasyāpnoti kilbiṣam । । 8.316 । ।''

 

''rājabhiḥ kr̥tadaṇḍāstu kr̥tvā pāpāni mānavāḥ । nirmalāḥ svargaṁ āyānti santaḥ sukr̥tino yathā । । 8.318 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning:  

* The thief becomes absolved from the theft either through punishment or through acquittal. By not punishing the thief, the ruler imbibes the guilt of the thief.

* The thief becomes absolved from the theft either through punishment or through acquittal. By not punishing the thief, the ruler imbibes the guilt of the thief.

* People who, having committed crimes, have been punished by rulers, become freed from guilt and go to [[Svarga (स्वर्गः)|svarga]] just like well-behaved good people.<ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.46012/page/n351/mode/2up Volume 6]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>

* People who, having committed crimes, have been punished by rulers, become freed from guilt and go to [[Svarga (स्वर्गः)|svarga]] just like well-behaved good people.<ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.46012/page/n351/mode/2up Volume 6]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref>

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:  

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॥

 

राजभिः धृत दण्डाः च कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः । निर्मलाः स्वर्गम् आयान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा ॥४.१८.३१॥

 

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>

 

''śrūyate manunā gītau ślokau cāritra vatsalau ॥ gr̥hītau dharma kuśalaiḥ tathā tat caritam mayā ॥4.18.30॥''

 

''rājabhiḥ dhr̥ta daṇḍāḥ ca kr̥tvā pāpāni mānavāḥ । nirmalāḥ svargam āyānti santaḥ sukr̥tino yathā ॥4.18.31॥''

 

''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.

* 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.