The Dharmasastras - A Brief Study

If religion helps a man to rise from the human level to the divine level dharma (righteousness a universal value system) elevates him from the brute level to the human level. It helps him to live a socially useful life and consequently achieve happiness and peace in his personal life too. Realizing this our rishis of yore who discovered this dharma not only practiced it in their own life but also vigorously propagated it. When Vibhisana gave up his all to join Lord Rama they were showing thatno sacrifice was too great in defense of dharma. This booklet on the dharmasastras is aimed at giving a panoramic view of the concept and development of dharma as applied to the individual and social life over the centuries.