History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s18.49.1

v1.c6.s18.49.1

We must now closely examine the data. The Anuśāsana-parva distinctly speaks of 'a śāstra declared by Manu.'²⁹⁴ In the Śāntiparva are quoted two ślokas ‘sung by Manu in his own dharmas,’ one of which is identical with Manu²⁹⁵ (9. 321). In another place the Śāntiparva speaks of the ‘rājadharmas of Prācetasa Manu’ and quotes two verses therefrom.²⁹⁶ In the Droṇaparva (7. 1) ‘Mānavī arthavidyā’ is referred to (vide note 272 above) and in Vanaparva the rājadharmas as proclaimed by Manu are referred to (vide note 272 above). In another places, the words ‘Manu Svāyambhuva said’ occur (e. g. Śānti 21. 12, Anuśāsana 114. 12, Vanaparva 180. 34-35, Ādiparva 73. 9, 120. 32-36, Udyoga 37. 1-6). In most cases the words ‘Manu said occur’ without the appellation ‘Svāyambhuva’ or ‘Prācetasa’ (e. g. Śānti 78. 31, 88. 14-16, 121. 10-12, 152. 14, 152. 30, 266. 5; Anuśāsana 44. 18 and 23, 65. 1 and 3, 67. 19, 68. 31, 88. 4, 115. 52-53; Vanaparva 32. 39, Udyogaparva 40. 9-10, Ādiparva 41. 31, 74. 39). The words ‘Manor-anuśāsanam’ occur in a few cases as in Anuśāsana 61. 34-35. Hopkins says that the words ‘the śāstra of Manu’ occur only in the Anuśāsana-parva and so only that *parvan* knew the Manusmṛti, while in the other *parvans* we have the expression ‘Manu said,’ and therefore these other books did not know the Manusmṛti but are only referring to floating verses attributed to the mythical Manu. This, however, is not a reasonable conclusion.