Smruti Sandarbh Part 01

Author(s): Maharshi
Publisher: Nag Publishers

Page 6

more than fifty and odd Smsties, the main body of the codes of law as handed down by tradition consists of Eighteen inspired Law Givers. These are.
मन्वत्रिविष्णुहारीतयाज्ञवल्क्योशनोऽङ्गिराः । यमापस्तम्बसम्वतः कात्यायनबृहस्पती ।। पराशरव्यास शङ्खलिखिताः दक्षगौतमौ । शाततपो वशिष्ठश्च धर्मशास्त्रप्रयोजकाः ।।
(याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृति प्राचाराध्याय ४१५)
Manu, Atri, Vişnu, Harita, Yājňavalkya, Uşanas or Sukra, Angiras, Yama, Apastamba, Samvarta, Katyāyana Bshaspati, Parāśara, Vyāsa, Sankha, Likhita, Daksa and Gautama, all these Law Givers are held to be inspired and to have based their precepts on the Vedas. Hence our attempt for the inclusion of these important major and minor Smsties forming a manual or compendium of Good moral conduct for
foc.
The Smsties as they are, should be read with a view to getting the real significance underlying the words of the Rşies concerned in as much as they are the rules and regulations prescribed for moral conduct of humanity and universe (foz). In a word, they are the natural Laws of the universe. Therefore, the attempt of bringing out the original texts of the noble-codes for placing before the public is made. Smsties as envisaged by the sages forming the unbiassed and unprejudiced principles have been guiding as since times immemorial. Those have been capably interpreted by the commentators. These great scholars contributed much towards guiding the human destiny and effecting smooth working of society but the inclusion of their commentaries side by the side with the texts, would have cost much labour and the work would have been voluminous out of