History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.634

v4.c63.t2.634

Several other methods of resolving conflicts between smṛtis may be mentioned here. Bṛ.¹⁶⁸⁶ states: 'Manusmṛti occupies a pre-eminent position because it puts together the purport of the Vedas; that smṛti which is in conflict with the purport of Manu is not commended'. Aṅgiras also states that to follow the words (of another smṛti) disregarding the unrivalled dharmaśāstra of Manu would not be beneficial to a person. The Mit. on Yāj. III. 300 speaks of the Manusmṛti and others as the great smṛtis (mahā-smṛti). Some writers¹⁶⁸⁷ quote the Vedic text 'whatever Manu said is indeed medicine' in this connection, thereby identifying the author of the Manusmṛti with the Manu named in the Vedas. But this does not afford much help. Another principle evolved was that certain rules of conduct and certain smṛtis were of special authority in certain cycles of time. Manu (I. 85-86 = Śānti 232. 27-28 = Parāśara I. 22-23