History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s3.1

v1.c6.s3.1

An important question is to find out when formal treatises on *dharma* began to be composed. It is not possible to give a definite answer to this question. The Nirukta (III. 4-5) shows that long before Baudhāyana mentions by name several writers on dharma, viz. Aupajaṅghani, Kātya, Kāśyapa, Gautama, Maudgalya and Hārīta. Āpastamba also cites the views of numerous sages such as those of Kaṇva, Kautsa, Hārīta and others. There is a Vārtika which speaks of Dharmaśātra⁵⁰. Jaimini speaks of the duties of a Śūdra as laid down in the dharmaśāstra⁵¹. Patañjali shows that in his days *dharma-sūtras* existed and that their authority was very high, being next to the commandments of God⁵². He quotes verses and dogmas that have their counterparts in the dharmaśūtras. The foregoing discussion establishes that works on the *dharmaśāstra* existed prior to Yāska or at least prior to the period 600-300 B. C. and in the 2nd century B. C. they had attained a position of supreme authority in regulating the conduct of men.