Smṛti · Law Books
Dharmaśāstraधर्मशास्त्रम्
The ancient Hindu legal and ethical literature — codifying dharma for individuals, families, and kingdoms. Three major Smṛtis form its authoritative core.
The Three Authoritative Smṛtis
Manusmṛti
मनुस्मृतिः
Laws of Manu
The oldest and most influential Dharmaśāstra text, attributed to Manu — the progenitor of humanity. It codifies the entire fabric of Hindu society across twelve chapters.
Chapter-by-Chapter Topics
Yājñavalkya Smṛti
याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतिः
Smṛti of Yājñavalkya
The second most authoritative Smṛti, attributed to the great sage Yājñavalkya of the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad. More systematic and concise than Manusmṛti, it is divided into three clear sections.
Three Adhyāyas (Sections)
Nārada Smṛti
नारदस्मृतिः
Smṛti of Nārada
The most juridical of all Dharmaśāstra texts, attributed to the sage Nārada. Unlike Manusmṛti, it focuses almost entirely on civil law and judicial procedure (vyavahāra), making it the most practical legal manual of the ancient world.
Chapter-by-Chapter Topics
Understanding Dharmaśāstra
What is Dharmaśāstra?
Dharmaśāstra (Sanskrit: धर्मशास्त्रम्) is the genre of ancient Hindu treatises that codify dharma — the totality of religious, ethical, and legal norms governing human life. Derived from the word dharma (duty, right, law) and śāstra (authoritative teaching), these texts specify how individuals, families, communities, and kings should conduct themselves in accordance with cosmic order (ṛta).
Historical Development
Dharmaśāstra evolved in three stages: (1) Dharmasūtras (c. 600–300 BCE) — concise aphoristic texts attached to Vedic schools (Gautama, Āpastamba, Baudhāyana, Vasiṣṭha); (2) Dharmaśāstra / Smṛtis (c. 200 BCE – 600 CE) — full prose-and-verse treatises of which Manusmṛti, Yājñavalkya Smṛti, and Nārada Smṛti are the three most authoritative; (3) Nibandhas (c. 900–1700 CE) — massive encyclopaedic digests synthesizing earlier law texts.
The Eighteen Grounds of Legal Dispute (Vyavahāra-Padāni)
All three major Smṛtis recognize eighteen categories of legal action (vyavahāra-padāni): (1) Non-payment of debt, (2) Deposit, (3) Sale without ownership, (4) Partnerships, (5) Non-delivery of gifts, (6) Non-payment of wages, (7) Breach of contract, (8) Cancellation of sale, (9) Disputes between employer and servant, (10) Boundary disputes, (11) Assault, (12) Defamation, (13) Theft, (14) Robbery, (15) Adultery, (16) Duties of husband and wife, (17) Partition and inheritance, (18) Gambling and betting.
Relationship to Vedic Tradition
Dharmaśāstra is classified as Smṛti — "what is remembered" — as distinct from Śruti ("what is heard," the Vedas). While Smṛtis are considered less absolute than Śruti, they are held to encode the practical application of Vedic values in everyday life. Where Smṛtis conflict, the Vedic text prevails (Śruti-bādhā); where two Smṛtis conflict, the more recent or more specific text is generally preferred by commentators.