Yajnavalkya-smriti (Vyavaharadhyaya)—Critical study

by Kalita Nabanita | 2017 | 87,413 words

This page relates ‘Importance of composing the Smriti Literature’ of the study on the Vyavaharadhyaya of the Yajnavalkya-smriti: one of the most prominent Smritis dealing with Dharmashastra (ancient Indian science of law), dating to the 1st century B.C. The Yajnavalkyasmriti scientifically arranges its contents in three sections: Acara (proper conduct), Vyavahara (proper law) and Prayashcitta (expiation). Vyavahara deals with judicial procedure and legal system such as substantive law and procedural law.

Chapter 1.1b - Importance of composing the Smṛti Literature

The Smṛtis were composed in metres, which were found to be convenient medium for more elaborate treatment of the rules of society. With the passing of time, when the society grew more advanced and complicated, then the need was felt for composing rules in details. Hence, the Dharmasūtras, in sūtra form, written for the guidance of the society in its early stages, proved to be the inadequate medium to formulate newly arising voluminous and various kinds of laws. Therefore, the Smṛtis were developed as new category of writing, through which, religious and worldly duties were taught for all the Āryans, unlike the Dharmasūtras meant for guidance of strictly limited circles of the followers of some particular Vedic school.[1] Thus, the Smṛtis, written in metrical form, widened the content and importance of the teaching of dharma advancing it to an independent discipline, i.e. the Dharmaśāstra.[2] The Smṛtis represent the second phase in the evolution of Hindu jurisprudence. The Smṛtis attained more universal authority than the Dharmasūtras.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Winternitz, M., History of Indian Literature, Volume3, page582

[2]:

Lingat, R., The Classical Law of India, trans. from the French, with additions by J. Duncan M. Derret, page 74

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