Dharmasutra

/ˌdɑːrmə ˈsuːtrə/ noun

Definition

An ancient Hindu or Buddhist religious text that outlines rules for righteous conduct and duties according to one's stage of life and social class.

Etymology

From Sanskrit dharma (duty, righteousness) + sutra (thread, aphorism). Sutras were concise texts that served as memory aids, with each line covering essential principles of religious law.

Kelly Says

Dharmasutras are like ancient instruction manuals for living a good life in Hindu society. They're some of the oldest known attempts to systematically write down ethical rules, predating many of the world's famous legal codes.

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