Author: Wendy Doniger
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 1991
Language: English
Pages: 362
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0140445404
Description
The several Brahmin hands who wrote the Laws of Manu drew on jurisprudence, philosophy and religion to create an extraordinary, encyclopedic model of how life should be lived, in public and in private, by untouchables as well as by priests and kings, by women as well as by men.
The Sanskrit text was first translated into English in 1794. For Nietzche the humane wisdom of Manu far surpassed that of the New Testament; for the British Raj it seemed to be the perfect tool with which to rule the Hindu.
Many commentators find Manu contradictory and ambiguous; other perceive a clear thematic integrity; and the argument is renewed by Wendy Doniger and Brian K Sniuth in their illuminating introduction.
Contents
Acknowledgements
INTRODUCTION
PART I
THE HISTORY OF THE TEXT
The Importance of the Laws of Manu
The History of the Text in Europe ; The British and Nietzsche
The Vedic Background : Food and Eaters
The Revaluation of All Values : Violence and Vegetarianism
The Authority of the Veda in Manu
PART II
THE STRUCTURE AND MEANING OF THE TEXT
The Coherence of Manu
Law in Extremity
Contradictions in Manu
'Between the idea/And the reality'
PART III
THE TRANSLATION
Why Büler is Note Good Enough
The Constinuous Narrative
Translating against the Commentaries
The Text and the Critical Apparatus
THE LAWS OF MANU
CHAPTER I
Verse
CHAPTER II
The Value of Desire
CHAPTER III
Entering the Householder Stage
CHAPTER IV
Occupations for the Householder
CHAPTER V
Fatal Flaws
CHAPTER VI
The Forest-dweller's Departure
CHAPTER VII
The King as Incarnation of the Gods
CHAPTER VIII
The King as Judge
CHAPTER IX
The Dependence of women
CHAPTER X
The Four Classes
CHAPTER XI
Vedic Graduates who Beg
CHAPTER XII
The Fruits of Actions
Bibliography
Index and Glossary