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History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s66: 81. The Smṛtyarthasāra of Śrīdhara

History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s66

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81. The Smṛtyarthasāra of Śrīdhara

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This well-known work was published by the Ānandāśrama Press, Poona, in 1912 A. D. The principal topics discussed by it are: the acts allowed in former ages but forbidden in the *kali* age; the number of *saṁskāras*, the detailed treatment of *Upanayana*, the duties of Brahmacārin, holidays, marriage, its various forms, prohibitions on the ground of *sapiṇḍa* relation, discussion about *gotra* and *pravara*, daily duties such as *śauca*, *ācamana*, brushing the teeth, bathing, the five *yajñas*, daily *saṁdhyā*, daily worship; detailed treatment of *śrāddha*, proper time, articles, and brāhmaṇas to be invited at it, various kinds of *śrāddha*, discussion about various *tithis*; intercalary month; forbidden and allowed food; purification of various substances and of one's own body; impurity on birth and death; rites after death; rules about *saṁnyāsa*; prāyaścittas for various grades of sins and lapses.

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From the colophon it appears that Śrīdhara was himself a performer of Vedic sacrifices and was the son of Nāgabhartṛ Viṣṇubhaṭṭa of the Viśvāmitra gotra. This colophon does not however occur in the ancient ms. of the work in the Deccan College collection (No. 44 of 1870-71) dated *saṁvat* 1495 (1438-39 A. D.). In the 2nd introductory verse (vide note 564 above) the author tells us that Śrīkaṇṭha and Śrīkarācārya filled the gaps in the smṛtis that were scattered about (i. e. they composed digests thereof with their own remarks). He also says (vide note 651 above) that he relies on the Kāmadhenu, the Pradīpa, the Abdhi, the Kalpavṛkṣa (i. e. Kalpataru), Kalpalatā, Śambhu, Draviḍa, Kedāra and Lollaṭa and the various commentators of Manu and other smṛtikāras. In dealing with *saṁnyāsa* he says that he would treat of the procedure of *saṁnyāsa* following the opinion of Govindarāja and of Baudhāyana.⁷⁸¹ At the beginning of some sections (p. 48 and p. 49 on *śrāddha* and *prāyaścitta* respectively) he again repeats the verse about Kāmadhenu and the other authorities. The Abdhi named therein seems to be the smṛtimahārṇava quoted in Hemādri, in the Vivādaratnākara and other works. He refers to Mitākṣarā also (p. 56). For Lollaṭa see above (under Medhātithi). It appears that Śrīdhara also composed another and a larger work on dharmaśāstra. For example, Hemādri who⁷⁸² knew the Smṛtyarthasāra quotes certain views as Śrīdhara's which do not occur in the Smṛtyarthasāra. The Prayogapārijāta, the Nirṇayasindhu, and the Saṁskārakaustubha quote the views of a work called Śrīdharīya which are not found in the Smṛtyarthasāra. Śrīdhara seems to have been a writer from southern India.

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⁷⁸¹ Vide note 723 above.

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⁷⁸² On the words of ज्योतिर्गार्ग्य 'सौरमासो विवाहादौ यज्ञादौ सावनः स्मृतः' चतुर्वर्ग० (काल) p. 20 says आदिशब्दार्थः श्रीधरेण दर्शितः । विवाहोपनयनचूडाव्रतनियमप्रतिष्ठागृहकरणक्षौरयात्रामहाषष्ठीमहासप्तमीविजयदशमीदशहरायुगादिमहाज्येष्ठामभृत्यादिशब्देनोपादीयते । यज्ञादावित्यादिशब्देन यागदानहोमगर्भाधानसीमन्तोन्नयनजातकर्म-ऋण-क्रयविक्रयव्यवहारग्रहणम् ।

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The date of the Smṛtyarthasāra can be fixed within approximate limits. As it names the Mit., the Kāmadhenu, the Kalpataru and Govindarāja, it is later than 1150 A. D. The Smṛticandrikā and Hemādri⁷⁸³ both quote it as an authority. For example, the Smṛticandrikā says that the Smṛtyarthasāra holds that the Tulasī is among the things the use of which is to be avoided in *śrāddha*. Therefore the Smṛtyarthasāra must have been composed between 1150 and 1200 A. D.

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⁷⁸³ स्मृत्यर्थसारे तुलस्यापि वर्ज्येत्युक्तं तत्र मूलं चिन्त्यं प्रसिद्धस्मृतिसमुच्चयेषु तुलसीनिषेधस्यादर्शनात् । स्मृतिच० II. p. 435; compare स्मृत्यर्थसार p. 53; 'यत्तु स्मृत्यर्थसारेऽभिहितं पाणिहोमे त्विध्ममेक्षणविप्रानुज्ञा न संततिः (सन्ति ?) तत्र विप्रानुज्ञाभावोऽकिरेतद्वचनादर्शननिबन्धन इत्युपेक्षणिया । ... यच्च तत्रैवाभिहितं परिसमूहनपर्युक्षणे स्त इति तदपि चिन्त्यम् ।' स्मृतिच० II. p. 463; vide for the very words quoted स्मृत्यर्थसार p. 52. स्मृतिच० II. 366 quotes some passages from स्मृत्यर्थसार pp. 57 and 60. चतुर्वर्ग० vol. IV. p. 992 (प्रायश्चित्त), स्मृत्यर्थसारे कलियुगे संसर्गदोषो नास्तीत्युक्तम्', compare स्मृत्यर्थसार p. 2. 'संसर्गदोषः पापेषु मधुपर्के पशोर्वधः । ... कलौ युगे त्विमान् धर्मान् वर्ज्यानाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥'. मदनपारिजात (p. 329) quotes the words संसर्गदोषः &c. expressly from स्मृत्यर्थसार.

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