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Nārada Smṛti (Nārada’s Treatise on Law)

Narada

The only treatise on dharma devoted entirely to procedural and substantive law, without rules on rites or penances. After an introduction on procedure (the plaint, the answer, evidence, witnesses, documents and ordeals), it sets out the eighteen titles of litigation: debts, deposits, partnerships, resumption of gifts, service, wages, sale without ownership, non-delivery and rescission of purchase, conventions, boundary disputes, relations between husband and wife, inheritance, violence, verbal and physical assault, gambling and betting, and miscellaneous cases. It survives in two recensions; the shorter was commented on by Asahāya and revised by Kalyāṇabhaṭṭa.