Narada Smrti

One of the smrtis or “remembered”
texts, a class of literature deemed important, but less authoritative than the
other textual category, the shrutis or
“heard” texts. This smrti is ascribed to
the sage Narada, and is an example of
one of the Dharma Shastras, which
were manuals prescribing rules for correct human behavior and ideal social
life. Unlike the Dharma Sutras, which
are ascribed to recognizable individuals,
the Dharma Shastras are usually
ascribed to mythic sages, a strategy used
to reinforce the authority of these texts.
The Narada Smrti exists in several versions, one of which is much longer than
the others. All of the versions were written later than the Manu Smrti (1st c.
B.C.E.?), since this text is mentioned in
the preface. Narada’s text deals exclusively with the administration of justice
(vyavahara), and treats this in exhaustive detail, with a strong emphasis on
clarity and precision.