Dharmashastra

The Dharmashastras are Hindu legal treatises that codify religious, social, and civil duties in accordance with Brahmanical tradition.

The Sanskrit term Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र), from dharma ("law, duty, moral order") and shastra ("treatise, instruction"), refers to a category of normative texts within Hindu smṛti literature. These works set out prescriptions for religious practice, social conduct, legal procedures, inheritance, and caste obligations.

Rather than a single code, the Dharmashastras are a diverse corpus of texts composed between the 3rd century BCE and the 7th century CE. They often present overlapping or contradictory rules intended for specific audiences. The most prominent among them include:

the Manusmṛti (Laws of Manu),

the Yājñavalkya Smṛti,

the Nārada Smṛti,

and the Vishnu Smṛti.

These treatises were meant to guide brahmins, jurists, and rulers in interpreting and applying dharma. They combine ritual duties, domestic norms, legal theory, and royal governance. While influential, their implementation was mediated by local customs (ācāra).

Today, the Dharmashastras are primarily studied as historical sources for ancient Indian law and society. Although no longer legally binding, they continue to inform cultural norms and traditional practices in certain contexts.