DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52359#0021
INTRODUCTION.
XVI1
and Baudhayana as well, not to mention Hirazzyake^in’s
Dharma-sutra, which, according to Dr. Buhler, is nearly iden-
tical with the Dharma-sutra of Apastamba. Two facts may
be established at once by glancing at these analogies, viz.
the close agreement of this work with the other Sutra works
in point of form, and with all the above-mentioned works in
point of contents. As regards the first point, the Sutras or
prose rules of which the bulk of the Vishzzu-sutra is com-
posed, show throughout that characteristic laconism of the
Sutra style, which renders it impossible in many cases to
make out the real meaning of a Sutra without the help of a
Commentary; and in the choice of terms they agree as
closely as possible with the other ancient law-books, and in
some cases with the Gzrhya - sutras as well. Numerous
verses, generally in the Sloka metre, and occasionally de-
signed as ‘ Gathas,’ are added at the end of most chapters,
and interspersed between the Sutras in some; but in this
particular also the Vishzzu-sutra agrees with at least
one other Dharma-sutra, the Vasish/Zza-smrzti, and it con-
tains in its law part, like the latter work, a number of
verses in the ancient Trish/ubh metre* 1. Four of these
TrishZubhs are found in the VasishZ/za-smrzti, and three in
Yaska’s Nirukta as well, and the majority of the Nlokas has
been traced in the former work and the other above-men-
tioned law-books, and in other Smrztis. In point of contents
the great majority both of the metrical and prose rules of
the Vishzzu-sutra agrees with one, or some, or all of the
works named above. The Gz'z’hya-sutras, excepting the Ka-
Z/zaka Grzhya-sutra, naturally offer a far smaller number of
analogies with it than the Smrz'tis, still they exhibit several
rules, in the Snataka-dharmas and otherwise, that have not
been traced in any other Smrzti except the work here trans-
lated. Among the Smrz'tis again, each single one may be seen
work, the first complete and reliable edition of the VasishZ/za-smrz'ti, in the foot-
notes to my translation, but for the fact that it did not come into my hands
till the former had gone to the press. For Baudhayana I have consulted a
Munich MS. containing the text only of his Sutras (cod. Haug 163).
1 XIX, 23, 24; XXIII, 61; XXIX, 9, 10; XXX, 47 (see Nirukta II, 4;
VasishZAa II, 8-10); LVI, 27 (seeVasish/Aa XXVIII, 15); LIX, 30; LXXII, 7;
LXXXVI, 16.
[7] b
XVI1
and Baudhayana as well, not to mention Hirazzyake^in’s
Dharma-sutra, which, according to Dr. Buhler, is nearly iden-
tical with the Dharma-sutra of Apastamba. Two facts may
be established at once by glancing at these analogies, viz.
the close agreement of this work with the other Sutra works
in point of form, and with all the above-mentioned works in
point of contents. As regards the first point, the Sutras or
prose rules of which the bulk of the Vishzzu-sutra is com-
posed, show throughout that characteristic laconism of the
Sutra style, which renders it impossible in many cases to
make out the real meaning of a Sutra without the help of a
Commentary; and in the choice of terms they agree as
closely as possible with the other ancient law-books, and in
some cases with the Gzrhya - sutras as well. Numerous
verses, generally in the Sloka metre, and occasionally de-
signed as ‘ Gathas,’ are added at the end of most chapters,
and interspersed between the Sutras in some; but in this
particular also the Vishzzu-sutra agrees with at least
one other Dharma-sutra, the Vasish/Zza-smrzti, and it con-
tains in its law part, like the latter work, a number of
verses in the ancient Trish/ubh metre* 1. Four of these
TrishZubhs are found in the VasishZ/za-smrzti, and three in
Yaska’s Nirukta as well, and the majority of the Nlokas has
been traced in the former work and the other above-men-
tioned law-books, and in other Smrztis. In point of contents
the great majority both of the metrical and prose rules of
the Vishzzu-sutra agrees with one, or some, or all of the
works named above. The Gz'z’hya-sutras, excepting the Ka-
Z/zaka Grzhya-sutra, naturally offer a far smaller number of
analogies with it than the Smrz'tis, still they exhibit several
rules, in the Snataka-dharmas and otherwise, that have not
been traced in any other Smrzti except the work here trans-
lated. Among the Smrz'tis again, each single one may be seen
work, the first complete and reliable edition of the VasishZ/za-smrz'ti, in the foot-
notes to my translation, but for the fact that it did not come into my hands
till the former had gone to the press. For Baudhayana I have consulted a
Munich MS. containing the text only of his Sutras (cod. Haug 163).
1 XIX, 23, 24; XXIII, 61; XXIX, 9, 10; XXX, 47 (see Nirukta II, 4;
VasishZAa II, 8-10); LVI, 27 (seeVasish/Aa XXVIII, 15); LIX, 30; LXXII, 7;
LXXXVI, 16.
[7] b