The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c16.s1.t3.27

c16.s1.t3.27

According to Âpastamba,³ law is what is “unanimously approved in all countries by men of the Aryan society who have been properly obedient to their teachers, who are aged, of subdued senses, neither given to avarice nor hypocrites”. In the *Manu-Samhitâ*,⁴ again law is whatever is practised and cherished at heart by the virtuous and the learned, who are devoid of prejudices and passions. Vaśiṣṭha⁵ and Baudhâyana⁶ also hold the view that law is the practice of the *śiṣtas* i. e. those whose hearts are free from desire.” The *śiṣtas* or *riṣis*, i. e. passionless and unavaricious persons of India are obviously the “sages” of Demosthenes.