Vinaya Texts

SR No.: 007684
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids, Hermann Oldenberg
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2523
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 1857

xcvi
LAWS OF MANU.
two works has been inverted. Nârada's Vyavahâramâtrikâ shows a far more advanced development of the judicial theories than Bhrigu's Samhitâ, and contains matter which conclusively proves that it cannot date from an earlier time than the fourth or fifth century of our era1. As this test fails, Nârada's statement cannot be used for the determination of the order in which the various versions of Manu's laws were composed. It becomes more probable that it has been framed, with a view to enhance the importance of the Nârada-smriti, on the model of such purely fictitious stories respecting the origin of the Dharma, as that given in the Mahâbhârata XII, 59, 22, and 80 seqq., where we are told that Brahman, assisted by the gods, first produced a Dharmasâstra in 100,000 chapters, which was successively abridged by Samkara in 10,000, by Indra in 5,000, by Brihaspati in 3,000, and by Kâvya in 1,000 Adhyâyas. Against the genuineness of Nârada's story we may also adduce the Paurânik statement, according to which Manu's laws were remodelled first by Bhrigu, secondly by Nârada, thirdly by Brihaspati, and fourthly by Angiras".
The third argument, drawn from the fact that the medieval Nibandhas and commentaries quote passages from a Brihat (great) and Vriddha (old) Manu, has still less value. Professor Jolly has of late asserted in his able discussion 3 of the quotations from these works that they are later, not earlier, than the existing text of Manu, because some of their rules resemble the advanced teaching of Yâgñavalkya and Nârada, while others contradict our Manu on points where he holds archaic views. Moreover, a passage of Vriddha Manu, to which Professor Max Müller has first called attention*, possibly indicates an acquaintance with Greek astrology. I can only agree with Professor Jolly's conclusions, and add that a comparison of the quotations from Brihat and Vriddha Manu with Bhrigu's Samhitâ produces the impression that both works-if indeed the titles refer
1 West and Bühler, Digest, pp. 48-50, third edition; Jolly, Tagore Lectures, p. 56: Preface to the Translation of Nârada, pp. xv-xvii.
Mandlik, the Vyavahâramayukha and Yâg., p. xlvii; Jolly, Tagore Lectures, p. 44.
Tagore Lectures, pp. 65-66.
India, what can it teach us? p. 366.
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