Chapter 1.1c - Date and Chronology of the Smṛti Literature

There is a controversy regarding chronology of the Dharmasūtras and the Smṛti literature. It is not possible to come to a definite conclusion. Traditionally, the Dharmasūtras are believed to have represented the oldest phase of the Dharma literature, which is followed by the Smṛtis or the Dharmaśāstras. Winternitz holds that Dharmasūtras are the forerunners of the metrical Dharmaśātras or the Smṛtis. ^[1] According to him, as the Dharmasūtras deal with more about religious duties and manner of worship, than about secular duties, so they are the oldest form of the Dharma literature. Macdonell holds that they are the earliest Indian works on law, treating fully of its religious, but only partially and briefly of its secular aspects.^[2] Max Müller also observes that the Dharmasūtras arose earlier than the Smṛtis, based on an assumption, i.e. pre-existence of sūtra period, but the Sūtras are said to have been succeeded by these later metrical Smṛtis.^[3]

S. C. Banerji has provided the following grounds to justify that the Dharmasūtras are prior to the Smṛtis^[4] -

(i) The archaisms and solecisms used in the Dharmasūtras show their pre-Pāṇiniyan origin. The Smṛtis such as the Manusmṛti, the Yājñavalkyasmṛti, etc., contain very few irregular forms in comparison to them.

(ii) Later digests and compendiums have quoted citations from the Smṛtis in a great number than the Dharmasūtras.

(iii) The study of the Dharmasūtras as authoritative source of Indian Law ceased in India long before, on the other hand, the Smṛtis were studied till the British came into India and even used as authority of Hindu Law in the Courts of justice.

(iv) The Smṛtis treat a greater variety of legal topics than the Dharmasūtras from which, it appears to be written at a later date, for a more advanced society.

(v) The Dharmasūtras deal with the numerous references to the Vedic Saṃhitās and the Brāhmaṇas. Thus, their existence before the Smṛtis may be inferred.

P.V. Kane has not supported this view of pre-existence of the Dharmasūtras only on the ground of sūtra style of writing. ^[5] Some of the Dharmasūtras have contained verses in śloka metre. It leads to the probability that works in the śloka metre may have existed before the Dharmasūtras. Another important observation is, since Manu and his extant Smṛti and a few others are found cited by many Dharmasūtras, it is very difficult to maintain that all the metrical Smṛtis evolved from or after the Dharmasūtras.^[6] The justified view seems to be that the metrical Dharmaśātras or the Smṛtis were composed simultaneously with the comparatively late Dharmasūtras, to fulfil the needs of the changing society of Hindus. Thus, chronology of the Dharmasūtra and the Smṛti, like most of the ancient Indian works, is yet to be settled specifically.

It is also very difficult to ascertain the exact date of composition of these works. These were written in different periods and widely separated ages. However, the period of composition of these works is identified into three stages. The Dharmasūtras of Gautama, Āpastamba, Baudhāyana and the Manusmṛti are considered to be very ancient and were composed, centuries before the Christian era. In the second stage, the Smṛtis of Yājñavalkya, Parāśara, Nārada, etc., came into existence. The time of the second stage commenced in the first centuries of the Christian era. Most of the other Smṛtis were produced between the period from 400 A.D. to 1000 A.D. ^[7]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Winternitz, M., Op.cit.,Volume3, page581

[2]:

cf., Macdonell, A.A., A History of Sanskrit Literature, page217

[3]:

Max Müller, F., A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, page86

[4]:

Banerji, S. C., Op.cit., page38

[5]:

Vide, Kane, P.V., Op.cit., Volume1, Part 1, page15

[6]:

De, S. K., et al (Edited), Op.cit.,Volume2, page302

[7]:

Vide., Kane, P.V., Op.cit., Volume1, Part 1, page304