The Manu Smriti or "Laws of Manu", is one of the eighteen Smritis of the Dharma Sastra (or "laws of righteous conduct"), written c.200. Smritis mean "what is remembered" and applied to Hindu texts other than the Vedas, including epics, the Puranas, and science and grammar treatises. Unlike the Vedas which are considered of divine origin, the Smritis are of human origin . They contain laws, rules and codes of conduct to be applied by individuals, communities and nations. Some of these laws codify the Hindu caste system and discuss the "stages of life for a twice-born man".

• "The whole Veda is the basis of Dharma, as also the Smritis and the conduct of those that know the Vedas, the conduct of the good and the conscience of the disciplined." (Manu Smitri, Book 2, v. 6)

• "One must not pick a quarrel with one's priest, teacher, uncle, guest, and dependant; boys, elders, invalids, doctors, agnates, marriage-relations, parents, sister and female relations, brother, son, wife, daughter and the servants." (Manu Smitri, Book 3, v. 179)

Manusmriti is attributed for having rendered the caste system secure by the elaboration of a system of conventional precepts. It clearly defined the relative position and the duties of the several castes, and determined the penalties to be indicted on any transgressions of the limits assigned to each of them. These laws are conceived with no sentimental scruples on the part of their authors. On the contrary, the offences committed by Brahmans against other castes are treated with remarkable clemency, whilst the punishments inflicted for trespasses on the rights of higher classes are the more severe and inhuman the lower the offender stands in the social scale.

Regarding caste, the Indian History Sourcebook writes:

43. But in consequence of the omission of the sacred rites, and of their not consulting Brahmanas, the following tribes of Kshatriyas have gradually sunk in this world to the condition of Shudras;

44. (Viz.) the Paundrakas, the Kodas, the Dravidas, the Kambogas, the Yavanas, the Sakas, the Paradas, the Pahlavas, the Kinas, the Kiratas, and the Daradas.)

Indian History Sourcebook: The Laws of Manu, c. 1500 BC, translated by G. Buhler

See also: Code of Hammurabi, Manu

References

Sacred Books of the East, The Laws of Manu, translation by G. Buhler, vol. xxv, Oxford (1886)