One of the smrtis, or
"remembered" texts, a kind of literature that is considered important
but not as authoritative as the shrutis, or "heard" scriptures.
This smrti is attributed to the sage Narada and is an
example of one of the Dharma Shastras, which were textbooks that prescribed
principles for proper human conduct and ideal social behavior.
Unlike the Dharma Sutras, which are attributed to real
people, the Dharma Shastras are frequently attributed to mythological sages,
which is a method employed to strengthen the authority of these books.
There are various versions of the Narada Smrti, one of which
is much longer than the others.
Because the Manu Smrti (1st c. B.C.E.?) is referenced in the
prologue, all of the versions were written 10 years later.
The administration of justice (vyavahara) is the only
subject of Narada's book, which is treated in exhaustive detail with a strong
focus on clarity and accuracy.
