DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52452#0031
THE AUTHORS PREFACE.
the (limited duration and) capacity of human life,
reduced it to eight thousand (slokas), and delivered
this (abridgment) to Sumati, the son of Bhrzgu.
4. Sumati, the son of Bhrzgu, after having learnt
(this book) from him and considered what human
capacity had been brought down to through the
(successive) lessening of life (in the four ages of
the world), reduced it to four thousand (Hokas).
5. It is this (abridgment) which Manes and mortals
read, whilst the gods, Gandharvas, and other (ex-
alted beings) read in extenso the (original) code,
consisting of one hundred thousand (slokas). There
the first sloka runs as follows: ‘This universe was
wrapped up in darkness, and nothing could be dis-
cerned. Then the holy, self-existent Spirit issued
forth with his four faces.’
6. After this exordium, chapter follows chapter
present version of the Code of Manu; see Mann I, 35, 59, 60.
The fact of his being mentioned here as the father of Sumati, the
compiler of the final recension of the Code of Manu, renders it
probable that this work may have closely resembled the now extant
Code of Manu. However, the latter work has not more than 2684
jlokas, instead of the 4000 attributed to the version of Sumati.
4. As for the successive lessening of life, and general deteriora-
tion of the world, in the four ages, Krzta, Treta, Dvapara, and
Kali, see Manu I, 81-86.
5. A. observes expressly that the term ‘there’ refers to the
original Code in 100,000 jlokas. The jloka here quoted is
nearly identical with Manu I, 5 a, 6 a.
6. The Matrz’ka or ‘Introduction’ (compare divyamatnka, a
‘ general introduction to the law regarding ordeals,’ in the Mita-
kshara, p. 139) which is here attributed to Narada, appears to
have formed part of the abridgment in 12,000 jlokas, which was
originally composed by him. It was composed in the Sfitra style, i.e.
it was made up of aphorisms. The slokas are frequently designed
as Sutras by the commentators of law-books. Supposing this
work to have consisted of twelve chapters, like the present Code
B 2
the (limited duration and) capacity of human life,
reduced it to eight thousand (slokas), and delivered
this (abridgment) to Sumati, the son of Bhrzgu.
4. Sumati, the son of Bhrzgu, after having learnt
(this book) from him and considered what human
capacity had been brought down to through the
(successive) lessening of life (in the four ages of
the world), reduced it to four thousand (Hokas).
5. It is this (abridgment) which Manes and mortals
read, whilst the gods, Gandharvas, and other (ex-
alted beings) read in extenso the (original) code,
consisting of one hundred thousand (slokas). There
the first sloka runs as follows: ‘This universe was
wrapped up in darkness, and nothing could be dis-
cerned. Then the holy, self-existent Spirit issued
forth with his four faces.’
6. After this exordium, chapter follows chapter
present version of the Code of Manu; see Mann I, 35, 59, 60.
The fact of his being mentioned here as the father of Sumati, the
compiler of the final recension of the Code of Manu, renders it
probable that this work may have closely resembled the now extant
Code of Manu. However, the latter work has not more than 2684
jlokas, instead of the 4000 attributed to the version of Sumati.
4. As for the successive lessening of life, and general deteriora-
tion of the world, in the four ages, Krzta, Treta, Dvapara, and
Kali, see Manu I, 81-86.
5. A. observes expressly that the term ‘there’ refers to the
original Code in 100,000 jlokas. The jloka here quoted is
nearly identical with Manu I, 5 a, 6 a.
6. The Matrz’ka or ‘Introduction’ (compare divyamatnka, a
‘ general introduction to the law regarding ordeals,’ in the Mita-
kshara, p. 139) which is here attributed to Narada, appears to
have formed part of the abridgment in 12,000 jlokas, which was
originally composed by him. It was composed in the Sfitra style, i.e.
it was made up of aphorisms. The slokas are frequently designed
as Sutras by the commentators of law-books. Supposing this
work to have consisted of twelve chapters, like the present Code
B 2