Manu’s Code of Law: A Critical Edition and Translation of the Mānava-Dharmaśāstra

Description

Manu's Code of Law is one of the most important texts in the Sanskrit canon, indeed one of the most important surviving texts from any classical civilization. It paints an astoundingly detailed picture of ancient Indian life-covering everything from the constitution of the king's cabinet to the price of a ferry trip for a pregnant woman-and its doctrines have been central to Indian thought and practice for 2000 years. Despite its importance, however, until now no one has produced a critical edition of this text. As a result, for centuries scholars have been forced to accept clearly inferior editions of Sanskrit texts and to use those unreliable editions as the basis for constructing the history of classical India. In this volume, Patrick Olivelle has assembled the critical text of Manu, including a critical apparatus containing all the significant manuscript variants, along with a reliable and readable translation, copious explanatory notes, and a comprehensive introduction on the structure, content, and socio-political context of the treatise. The result is an outstanding scholarly achievement that will be an essential tool for any serious student of India. Abbreviations INTRODUCTION I. Authorship and Composition II. Sources of Manu: The Traditions of dharma and artha III. The Work of Redactors IV. Nature and Purpose of the Treatise V. Manu and the Later dharma Tradition Note on the Translation TRANSLATION Editor's Outline Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Notes to the Translation CRITICAL EDITION Introduction to the Critical Edition I. Editorial History and the Need for a Critical Edition II. Sources for the Critical Edition III. Genealogy of Manuscripts IV.Constitution of the Texts Note on the Critical Edition Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Notes to the Critical Edition Appendices Appendix I: Fauna and Flora Appendix II: Names of Gods, People, and Places Appendix III: Ritual Vocabulary Appendix IV: Weights, Measures, and Currency Bibliography Dharmaśāstric Parallels Pāda Index Index to the Translation A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y