Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c9.s3.3

c9.s3.3

The contradictory views in these texts on legal matters, laws of inheritance, women’s rights and marriage, etc. reflect the differences of opinion and receptiveness of debates. Yājñavalkya says that in case of divergence of opinions or difference in prescriptions, decision should be taken by *nyāya*. *Nyāya* here comprises of three facets — the practices of the elders who are reliable, the prevalence and the precedence. But Yājñavalkya also upholds the prominence of *dharmaśāstra* over *arthaśāstra*.¹³