Sacred Texts

-1-

Manu Smruti
(The Laws of Manu)
www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

-2-

Manu Smruti

MANU SMRUTI : AN INTRODUCTION

Manusmruti (also known as Manusmriti or Manusmrti)
is the most important and foundational work of Hindu law. It
throws light on ancient Indian society, Hindu caste system, laws,
rules and codes of conduct for various entities and stages of life
for ashramvasi man. Assumed to be compiled and written
around 200 CE in India, Manu Smruti is one of the eighteen
Smritis of the Dharma Sastra (laws of righteous conduct). Smriti
means "what is remembered" and is applied in general to
traditional Indian epics, the Puranas, and science and grammar
treatises. Unlike the Vedas which are part of Shruti means
what is heard and are considered as eternal or of divine origin,
the Smritis are considered to be of human origin and are
susceptible to the flaws of humans.
Manu Smruti divides society into four classes - Brahmins
(teachers and priests), Kshatriyas (administrators and armymen),
Vaishyas (traders, farmers and herdsmen) and Shudras (slaves).
It defines the duties of four castes, their relative position and
determines the penalties to be indicted for any transgressions.
The text justify the sanctity of the caste system, authorize
Brahmin supremacy, and the lower status to the Shudras. It
offeres great concessions in fines and punishments to wrong
doing of Brahmin caste in comparision with that offered to the
members of the other caste, thus helping exaggerate dignity of
the Brahmins while debasing that of the Sudras.
Contained in 12 chapters, Manu Smruti is ascribed to
Manu, said to be the forefather of all human race. Manu,
Brahmas son, the legendary first man and the Adam of the
Hindus, records Brahmas words on law, polity, and pleasure.
He, then teaches it to his own students, including Bhrigu. Bhrigu
then relays this information in the Manu Smriti, to an audience of
his own pupils. The text begins with Manu detailing the creation
of the world and the society within it, structured around four
social classes.

The content of this book, can be divided into the

following:
Origin of the World (1.1-119)
Sources of the Law (2.1-24)
Dharma of the Four Social Classes (2.25-11.266)
Rules Relating to Law (2.25-10.131)
Rules of Action in Normal Times (2.26-9.336)
Dharma of a Brahmin (2.26-6.97)
Rules of Action for a King (7.1-9.325)
Rules of Action for Vaiyas and dras (9.325-36)
Rules of Action in Times of Adversity (10.1-129)
Rules Relating to Penance (11.1-265)
Determination Regarding Engagement in Action (12.3-116)
Fruits of Action (12.3-81)
Rules of Action for Supreme God (12.83-115)
The stance of the Manu Smriti on position of women,
education of women (Vedic scriptures), child marriage etc. is
often debated yet most Hindus agree that it is authoritative text
on Hindu laws. Pominent among them are Swami Dayananda
Saraswati, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Annie Besant, and S.
Radhakrishnan. The text, known in English as the Laws of
Manu was first translated into English in 1794 by Sir William
Jones, judge of the British Supreme Court in Calcutta. Other
notable translations include one made by Professor George
Bhler, which appeared in the series Sacred Books of the East,
Volume 25, in 1886.
Find here the Sanskrit text of Manu Smrti. To read online
or download as PDF other Hindu scriptures like Mahabharata,
Ramayan, Srimad Bhagavat, Bhagavat Gita, Upanishads, etc.,
please visit www.swargarohan.org.

www.swargarohan.org

* * *

Sacred Texts

-3-

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

. .

Sacred Texts

-4-

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

-5-

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

-6-

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

-7-

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

-8-

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

-9-

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 10 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 11 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 12 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 13 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 14 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 15 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 16 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 17 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 18 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 19 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 20 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 21 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 22 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 23 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 24 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 25 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 26 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 27 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 28 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 29 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 30 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 31 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 32 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 33 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 34 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 35 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 36 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 37 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 38 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 39 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 40 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 41 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 42 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 43 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 44 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 45 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 46 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 47 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 48 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 49 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 50 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 51 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 52 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 53 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 54 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 55 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 56 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 57 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 58 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 59 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 60 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 61 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 62 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 63 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 64 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 65 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 66 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 67 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 68 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 69 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 70 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 71 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 72 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 73 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 74 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 75 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 76 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 77 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 78 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 79 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 80 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 81 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 82 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 83 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 84 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 85 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 86 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 87 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 88 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 89 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 90 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 91 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 92 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 93 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 94 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 95 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 96 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 97 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 98 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 99 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 100 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 101 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 102 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 103 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 104 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 105 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 106 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 107 -

Manu Smruti

www.swargarohan.org

Sacred Texts

- 108 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 109 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 110 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 111 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti

Sacred Texts

- 112 -

www.swargarohan.org

Manu Smruti