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INTRODUCTION.
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If Medhâtithi, nevertheless, considers it to be an inspired work, revealed by the god Vishnu, it is only reasonable to assume that a very considerable interval lies between the date of its composition and his own times. This is so much more probable, as the Vishnu-smriti was probably written in Kasmir, which, as will be shown presently, was also Medhatithi's home. A more definite result with respect to Medhâtithi's date is, I fear, at present not obtainable. His references to other works, such as a Vakyapradipa by one-rimisra', an Abhidhånakosha ?, Pingala's treatise on metrics", a work of the ancient writer on Samkhya, Vindhyavasin, and so forth, are, in the present state of our knowledge of the history of Sanskrit literature, not particularly useful. The Bhashya furnishes, however, two interesting details regarding Medhatithi's personal history. First, we hear that he wrote a metrical treatise on the sacred law, called Smritiviveka. Secondly, it appears that the valley of Kasmîr, which has produced so many Indian men of letters, was his native country. The Smritiviveka is mentioned repeatedly in the Bhashya as a comprehensive work in which difficult legal questions were fully discussed 4. As regards the other point, there is no direct statement in the Bhashya which mentions Medhatithi's birthplace. But the author refers so frequently to Kasmîr, its laws, its Vedic Sakhâ, and even to its language, that the inference that it was his native country becomes unavoidable. Thus in explaining the word svarâshtre, 'in his own kingdom' (Manu VII, 32), and the term ganapadah, 'country or province' (Manu VIII, 41), he introduces the
Manu XII, 118, HATUTAUTIFUGAO RICE infur: AMERरिमित्रैः कृत एव वेशः। उक्तंच वाक्यप्रदीपे। न तदस्ति पतमानीत्यादि। Professor Kielhom informs me that the verse does not occur in Hari's Vakyapadiya, which sometimes is called Vákyapradfpa. • Mana IX, 185-6; the words quoted are, FOTO
Mana IX, 42, a furcsa I fafi [u] fall Pingala VIII, 1; sec Weber, Indische Studien, VIII, 147.
See c.g. comm. on II, 6, fargunta a faruraraanfar: mfapererà i and ibidem, na nangante** i forence pfafada goa: u
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