Vīramitrodaya

The Vīramitrodaya is a Hindu law digest written by Mitamiśra which covers nearly every aspect of Dharmaśāstra. The text also includes Vyavahāra as well, as the name would suggest. The digest was written at the request of Vīrasiṃha, the king of Orccha. The Privvy Council in the Benares School of Hindu Law considered the text to be a work of high authority.^[1] Mitamiśra's text includes hundreds of citations in which he analyzes and critiques numerous arguments, particularly those made by members of the Bengal school.

Contents 1 Text 1.1 Vyavahāra 1.1.1 1.) Composition of the Court 1.1.2 2.) Modes of Proof 1.1.3 3.) 18 Titles of Law 1.1.4 4.) Matters for the king 1.2 Paribhāśā 1.3 Samskāra 1.4 Rājanti 1.5 Āhnika 1.6 Pūjā 1.7 Tirtha 1.8 Laksana 2 Notes 3 References

Text

The text is divided into sections, called prakāśas which include:

Vyavahāra

• The Vyavahāra-Prakāśa is considered to be the largest nibandha, or digest written on the Vyavahāra
• The text is divided into four parts^[2]:

1.) Composition of the Court

• Constitution of the sabhā
• The Appointment of judges
• Conflict with the Dharmaśāstra
• Various grades of the courts
• Burden and means of proof

2.) Modes of Proof

• Witnesses
• Documents

3.) 18 Titles of Law

4.) Matters for the king

Paribhāśā

Samskāra

• Astrological matters relating to marriage

Rājanti

• The qualifications of ministers
• Preparing for battle
• Routine for kings
• Time and procedure for coronation

Āhnika

• The daily duties to be done when rising and before going to bed.

Pūjā

• Those entitled to perform worship of the gods
• Proper flowers and clothing for worship

Tirtha

• Discuss those able to undertake a pilgrimage
• Times for a pilgrimage
• Ceremonial acts to be done for men, such as bathing, fasting and shaving.

Laksana

• The human body
• Qualities needed for the queen, ministers, astrologers, and physicians.

Notes

References

• Kane, P.V. (1973). History of DharmaŚãstra. Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental research Institute.