The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c23.8

v1.c23.8

The law-book of Vishṇu, which because of its Sūtra form might be thought to be earlier than Manu, is so largely interpolated that in its present condition it must rank decidedly as secondary to that code. It appears to have been an expansion of a Sūtra belonging to the Kāṭhaka school of the Yajurveda enlarged in the hope of making it a general code favouring the cult of Vishṇu. It mentions books under the modern name *pustaka*, recognises the burning of widows, knows the names of the days of the week, evidently borrowing here from Greek sources, acknowledges the Hindu Trinity, recommends the Tīrthas or pilgrimages, which are decried by Manu, and in the matter of debts and legal procedure is later than that code. At the same time it contains much ancient material, especially in regard to legal penalties, the rights of kings, inheritance, etc. A large part of the work is not legal, but treats of sacrifice, impurity, sin and atonement, etc.²