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The Yājñavalkya Smṛti has been called the "best composed" and "most homogeneous"[1] text of the Dharmaśāstra tradition. It reflects a superior vocabulary and level of sophistication in comparison to many of the other texts of its time. It was written by Sage Yajnavalkya of Mithila during the peak influence of the Gupta dynasty in India.
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There is some debate as to the dating of this text, but it was most likely composed somewhere between the third and fifth centuries CE.[2] Arguments for particular dating are based on the concise, sophisticated vocabulary found throughout the text and on the use of certain terms such as nāṇaka (a coin). Also, some of Yājñavalkya’s references demonstrate an understanding of Greek mythology. The argument arises when considerations are made as to who was exchanging the nāṇaka and when the level of Greek mythology which the author understood is brought into question.[3] Regardless, the text became a well-known member of the dharmaśāstra tradition by the last few centuries of the first millennium CE.
It is clear that Yājñavalkya drew heavily on the works of Manu, sometimes even paraphrasing several of Manu’s verses into his own words. However, he made a few influential changes as well, especially with regard to statecraft and jurisprudence.[4]
1. Pioneered the structure which was adopted in future dharmaśāstric discourse:[5]
2. Added to the model of Legal Procedure:[5]
3. Restructured the Courts:[7]
4. Changed the placement of the discussion of Ascetic Orders:[7]
The Yājñavalkya Smṛti consists of 1,010 ślokas (verses). The text is laid out as a frame story in which the sages of Mithila approach Yājñavalkya and ask him to teach them dharma.[4] The majority of the text is then Yājñavalkya's description of dharma, divided into three subtopics: Ācāra (proper conduct), Vyavahāra (judicial procedures) and Prāyaścitta (penance).