[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v7.c99.549 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.549 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.549 - **Language:** English ### [v7.c99.549](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.549) Dharma: (vide under 'change', Pūrvamīmāṁsā, Satya, Smṛti) differs in each Yuga, 1266; investigation of D. has four aspects, viz its nature, the pramāṇas of it (such as Veda, Smṛti etc.), the means (sādhana) of knowing it, the fruit or reward, 1179n; Jaimini holds that śabda (i. e. Veda,) alone is the pramāṇa for Dharma and no other, 1183, 1185, 1265; Mahābhārata says that Dharma is the one followed by the great mass of people, 1071; Mahābhārata and Manu often refer to the high value of D. and make \*artha\* and \*Kāma\* subservient to D. 1627-28, Manu provides that as to matters not specifically provided for in Veda and Smṛtis, whatever learned brāhmaṇas declare to be the D. is undoubtedly so, 1278; meaning of Dharma in P. M. S. I 1. 1 is 'Vedārtha' acc. to Prabhākara school and 'Codanā' acc. to Kumārila (i. e. a religious act, a yāga) 1179n, 1184; D. is one of the puruṣārthas that has been a far-reaching one from Upaniṣad times and concerns principles which men should observe in their lives and social relations, 1627, P. M. Sūtra I. 1. 2 defines Dharma as an act conducive to a man's highest good, that is characterized by an exhortative (Vedic) text, 1183, practice of black magic is adharma, as it is sinful and condemned, though it be referred to in the Veda, 1183; Śabara holds, on account of Ṛg. X. 90. 16, that Veda expressly declares that Dharma means 'Yāga' 1184. - [Previous: v7.c99.548](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.548) - [Next: v7.c99.550](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.550) - [Up: v7.c99](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.549](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c99.549) · Pramāṇa