manusmriti

LAWS OF MANU
natural enough, as the two bodies of law would then bear the same title, although the
sect had no connection with Manu except in name. .. . According to my theory, these
Manu-verses found in the Mãnava treatise were simply caught up and drawn from the
hearsay of the whole Brahman world, keeping their form after incorporation with the
Manavas’ text.”
Most of the modern scholarship agrees with this.
Sir William Jones, in the Preface to his translation gives the following remark:
“The work now presented to the European world, contains an abundance of curious
matter extremely interesting both to speculative lawyers and antiquaries, with many
beauties, which need not be pointed out, and with blemishes, which cannot be justified
or palliated. It is a system of despotism and priestcraft, both indeed limited by law, but
artfully conspiring to give mutual support ,through with mutual checks; it is filled with
strange conceits in metaphysics and natural philosophy, with idle superstitions, and
with a scheme of theology most obscurely figurative, and consequently liable to
dangerous misconception; it abounds with minute and childish formalities, with
ceremonies generally absurd and often ridiculous; the punishments are partial and
fanciful, for some crimes dreadfully cruel, for others reprehensibly slight; and the very
morals, though rigid enough on the whole, are in one or two instances (as in the case
of light oaths and of pious perjury) unaccountably relaxed.
Nevertheless, a spirit of sublime devotion, of benevolence to mankind, and of amiable
tenderness to all sentient creatures, pervades the whole work; the style of it has a
certain austere majesty, that sound like the language of legislation and extorts a
respectful awe; the sentiments of independence on all beings but GOD, and the harsh
admonitions even to king, are truly noble.”
“Where caste does not exert an influence, the laws are in many cases, wise and just.
Several great truths are acknowledged. A few exam ples may be given:
• Wrong-doing punished in the End
• Dharma the only secure Possession
• The Voice of Conscience and God’s Omniscience
• Great moral duties are inculcated.
• Respect to Parents and Teachers
• Respect to the Aged.
• Injuries not to be returned
• Duty of Hospitality
• Caution against Religious Pride etc.
• Voices to be shunned by a King
• Guilt increased by knowledge
• Puuishmeut for Adultery ,
There are indeed clear contradictions such as:
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