History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s93.1

v1.c6.s93.1

The Vīramitrodaya is a vast digest composed by Mitramiśra embracing almost all branches of dharmaśāstra. Excepting the Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi of Hemādri, this work is probably the largest known on dharmaśāstra. But it surpasses in interest and usefulness even Hemādri's work since it deals with vyavahāra also. It was divided into sections called *prakāśas*. So far the *prakāśas* on vyavahāra, paribhāṣā, saṁskāra, rājanīti, āhnika, pūjā, tīrtha and lakṣaṇa have been published, the first by Jivananda ( Calcutta 1875 ) and the rest in the Chowkhamba Sanskrit series. The text of the dāyabhāga portion of the Vyavahāraprakāśa was also published by Golapchandra Sarkar Sastri with an English translation ( Calcutta 1879 ). It appears that Mitramiśra wrote on prāyaścitta also.¹¹⁰¹ But that work has not yet been met with. The very names of the sections of the Vīramitrodaya convey an idea of the subjects dealt with in them. The Lakṣaṇaprakāśa deals with the auspicious signs of men, women, the several parts of human body, elephants, horses, thrones, swords, bows and with the characteristics and qualities of the queen, the ministers, the astrologer, physician, doorkeeper, description of śālagrāma, śivaliṅga, rudrākṣa beads etc. In the *āhnikaprakāśa* he dilates upon the daily duties beginning with one's rising from bed on brāhmamuhūrta, śauca, ācamana and ending with going to bed. The Vyavahāraprakāśa is probably the largest *nibandha* on *vyavahāra*. This is divided into four parts. The first part deals with the meaning of *vyavahāra*, the constitution of the *sabhā* (court of justice), the appointment of judges, conflict of dharmaśāstra and arthaśāstra, assessors, the various grades of courts, the procedure about plaints and defendant's replies and their faults; the burden of proof and the means of proof. The second gives a detailed exposition of the means of proof, viz. witnesses, documents, possession and ordeals. The third treats of the eighteen titles of law including *dāyavibhāga* and the fourth very briefly speaks of those matters which were to be started *suo motu* by the king and not by a private individual. The *dāyavibhāga* portion of the Vyavahāraprakāśa occupies a little more than one-fourtth of the whole of the work.