Dharmasūtra – Ramanisblog

Code of Righteousness is contained in many texts in Hinduism.

They are called Dharma Shastras.

Apasthamba Sutra.jpg — Apasthamba Sutra.

There are many.

Some of them are,

Apasthamba,

Bodhayana,

Vasishta,

Manu,

Gautama.

The Dharmasutra of Āpastamba forms a part of the larger Kalpasūtra of Āpastamba. It contains thirty praśnas, which literally means ‘questions’ or books. The subjects of this Dharmasūtra are well organized and preserved in good condition.

These praśanas consist of the Śrautasūtra followed by Mantrapāṭha which is used in domestic rites and is a collection of ritual formulas, the Gṛhyasūtra which deals with domestic rituals and lastly the Śulvasūtra which are principles of geometry needed for vedic rituals.

On Catse system, Apasthamba says thus,

Catvāro varṇā brāhmaṇa kṣatriya vaiśya śūdrāḥ || 4 ||
4. [There are] four castes — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras.
All four are entitled to practice the Dharma set forth by the agreement of the Law-givers.
teṣāṃ pūrvaḥ pūrvo janmataś-śreyān || 5 ||
5. Among these, each preceding [caste] is superior by birth to the one
following.
aśūdrāṇām aduṣṭa-karmāṇām upāyanaṃ vedādhyayanam agnyādheyaṃ
phalavanti ca karmāṇi ||

Here the translation reads as’by Birth”

But the real meaning does not seem to be so.

This is a vital subject.

Would some one clarify on the Sanskrit Text and Translation?

अदुष्ट	aduSTa	adj.	not guilty
	अदुष्ट	aduSTa	adj.	innocent
	अदुष्ट	aduSTa	adj.	not vitiated
	अदुष्ट	aduSTa	adj.	not bad

Bhagavad Gita.

According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.” (Bhagavad Gita 4.13)

The Caste is determined by the dispositions of the individual.

This subject of Three dispositions is discussed at length in the Gunathraya Vibhaaga Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita ,Chapter 14.

Obviously there is a contradiction of this is by Apasthamba.

As the Bhagavad Gita carries the weight of Sruthi its words are final.

Please read my posts on Caste.

Citation.

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/hinduism/dharma/apasta1.asp#1.1.1

http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=aduSTa&script=&direction=SE&link=yes

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