History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.11

v4.c62.11

The Nītiprakāśikā (I. 21-22) states that Brahmā, Maheśvara, Skanda, Indra, Prācetasa Manu, Bṛhaspati, Śukra, Bhāradvāja, Veda-Vyāsa, Gauraśiras were the expounders of Rājaśāstra, that Brahmā composed a work on rājaśāstra in 100000 chapters, which was gradually reduced in size by each of the abovementioned founders until Gauraśiras reduced it to 500 chapters and Vyāsa to 300. The Śukranītisāra (I. 2-4) states that Brahmā composed nītiśāstra in 100000 verses, which was subsequently abridged by Vasiṣṭha and others (including Śukra).