At the same time, we have not blindly or implicitly followed this commentator. In some sense all Hindu glosses are untrustworthy guides. They assume the text to be the language of inspiration; and, as the several Dharma Śástras not merely differ, but often dispose of the same subject in a contradictory manner, Pandits deem it their duty to reconcile all discrepancies, how forced soever their interpretations may be. In passages so dealt with, we have endeavoured to give the plain meaning of the original text. We gratefully acknowledge the obliging assistance, in research, enquiry, and suggestion, occasionally afforded, in the progress of our task, by Babus, Chandra Saikhur Dev[4] and Shyámácharaṇa Sircar.[5] E. R. W. A. M. August 1858. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: _vyavahára._] [Footnote 2: Yájnavalkya's Gesetzbuch, Sanscrit and Deutsch, Berlin and London, 1849.] [Footnote 3: 1. Sanhitá of Yájnavalkya, edited by Sri Bhavánícharana Vandyopádhyaya: 2. The text published in the Mitákshará Dharma Śástra, Calcutta, 1812.] [Footnote 4: Formerly head superintendent of the legal and zemindarry affairs of the maharajah of Burdwan.] [Footnote 5: Joint chief translator and interpreter H. M. Supreme Court.] CORRIGENDA. Page x, (Introd.) for "Swabhábha" read "Swabháva." " xi, " " "sl. 241" read "sl. 240." " 2, sl. 2, " "harken" read "hearken." " 79, sl. 303, " "equipage," read "vehicle." " " " " _gadee_" read "seat." Transcriber's Note: These corrections have been made in the text. INTRODUCTION. Professor Stenzler enumerates[6] forty-six distinct Dharma Śástras or recognised codes of Hindu law and ritual, _scil._ ☨☨☨ 1. Agni. ☨ 2. Angiras. ☨ 3. Atri. ☨ 4. Ápastamba. ☨ 5. Uśanas. ☨☨ 6. Rishyaśringa. ☨☨ 7. Kaśyapa. ☨ 8. Kátyáyana. ☨☨ 9. Kuthumi. ☨☨ 10. Gárgya. ☨ 11. Gautama. ☨☨☨ 12. Chyavana. ☨☨☨ 13. Ch'hágaleya. ☨☨☨ 14. Játúkarṇa. ☨☨ 15. Jábáli. ☨ 16. Daksha. ☨☨ 17. Devala. ☨☨ 18. Nárada. ☨ 19. Paráśara. ☨☨ 20. Páraskara. ☨☨☨ 21. Pitámaha. ☨☨ 22. Pulastya. ☨☨ 23. Paiṭhínasi. ☨☨ 24. Prachetas. ☨☨☨ 25. Prajápati. ☨☨☨ 26. Budha. ☨ 27. Brihaspati. ☨☨ 28. Baudháyana. ☨☨ 29. Bhrigu. ☨ 30. Manu. ☨☨ 31. Maríchi. ☨ 32. Yama. ☨ 33. Yájnavalkya. ☨ 34. Likhita. ☨☨ 35. Laugákshi. ☨ 36. Vaśishṭha. ☨☨ 37. Viśwámittra. ☨ 38. Vishṇu. ☨ 39. Vyása. ☨ 40. Śankha. ☨ 41. Śátátapa. ☨☨☨ 42. Śáṭyáyana. ☨ 43. Samvartta. ☨☨ 44. Sumantu. ☨☨☨ 45. Soma. ☨ 46. Háríta.