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MORALITY, AUTHORITY AND SOCIETY : THE
PROBLEM OF DHARMAPRĀMANYA*
M. V. Baxi
I The Problem : Texts and the Context
The problem of dharmaprāmänya is the problem of the valid sources of the knowledge of dharma 1.e. morality, duty or the good.
In Hindu Ethics, Stuti, Smriti and Sadācāra are the valid sources of the knowledge of dharma. The first aspect of the problem of dharmaprāmānya is that of resolving the conflict among the various sources of the knowledge of dharma and the second aspect of the same problem relates to the question of resolving the conflict, not among the sources but among the prescribed dharmas theniselves
In case of the conflict among the sources, the general solution lies in accepting a graded or ranked scheme of the sources such that one source (e.g Sruti) is treated as more authoritative than the other (e.g. Smritis) In this context, the concepts of lokavidvişta, mahajana and kalivarjya are also introduced to absorb the pressures on textual authority arising from public opinion, society and history.
In the case of conflict among dharmas themselves (i.e., in relation to the problem of determining the valid dharma during moral conflict), the general solution lies in accepting a graded 1 ranked scheme of the categories of duties such that, in cases of conflict, one set of duties has greater force compared to the other. For example, as against the Sadharana dharma (i.e. general morality), Varnadharma is to be followed even if it involves violence to the fellow human beings, but as against Yajña dharma, (sanctioning violence to the animals) Sadhāraņa dharma is to be followed by redefining Yajña in a symbolic and metaphysical manner.
Thus the general solution offered both for the conflicting sources and conflicting dharmas involves an acceptance of some graded scheme of categories along with criteria of choosing the selected category.
From an analysis of both these aspects of dharmapıāmānya briefly outlined in this paper, we find that the moral imperatives in the tradit
* ICPR Seminar on Moral und Aesthetic Value-India and Western Approach.Department of Philosophy-M. S University, Baroda.
September 22nd, 23rd and 24th 1986
