The Minor Law-Books, Part I: Nārada, Bṛhaspati

Introduction to Nārada: Discusses the origin, textual history, relation to the Manu-smṛti, date, manuscript evidence, Asahāya’s commentary, and the legal importance of the Nārada-smṛti. Abbreviations: Lists abbreviations for legal texts, commentaries, digests, manuscripts, and modern editions used in the notes. Nārada — The Author’s Preface: Presents Nārada’s account of the original Code of Manu and its successive abridgment, leading to the legal section on judicial procedure. Introduction I — Legal Procedure: Explains the origin of lawsuits, the role of the king, modes of proof, stages of judicial process, and principles of legal decision. Introduction II — The Plaint: Describes the structure of the legal complaint, defects in plaints, answers, representatives, evidence, and procedural correctness. Introduction III — Courts of Justice: Discusses the constitution of courts, duties of judges and assessors, impartiality, legal responsibility, and the moral consequences of unjust judgment. First Title of Law — The Law of Debt: Covers payment of debt, valid and invalid transactions, property, livelihood rules, modes of proof, interest, usury, sureties, pledges, documents, witnesses, evidence, and ordeals. Second Title of Law — Deposits: Treats entrusted property, sealed deposits, loans for use, and rules governing safekeeping and restitution. Third Title of Law — Partnership: Discusses business partnerships, common undertakings, shared profit, and responsibility among partners. Fourth Title of Law — Resumption of Gift: Explains valid and invalid gifts and circumstances under which a gift may be resumed. Fifth Title of Law — Breach of a Contract of Service: Covers service obligations, dependence, labour, apprentices, slaves, and breach of agreed duty. Sixth Title of Law — Non-payment of Wages: Discusses wages owed to servants, labourers, cowherds, and others. Seventh Title of Law — Sales Effected by Another than the Rightful Owner: Treats sale without ownership and related disputes over title. Eighth Title of Law — Non-delivery of a Sold Chattel: Discusses failure to deliver property after sale. Ninth Title of Law — Rescission of Purchase: Explains circumstances under which a purchase may be revoked. Tenth Title of Law — Transgression of a Compact: Covers breach of agreements and contractual obligations. Eleventh Title of Law — Boundary Disputes: Deals with disputes concerning land, houses, gardens, wells, villages, and boundaries. Twelfth Title of Law — The Mutual Duties of Husband and Wife: Discusses marriage, conjugal duties, women, adultery, offspring, and related domestic law. Thirteenth Title of Law — The Law of Inheritance: Presents rules of succession, partition, heirs, women’s property, and family property. Fourteenth Title of Law — Heinous Offences: Discusses serious crimes and punishments. Fifteenth and Sixteenth Titles of Law — Abuse and Assault: Treat verbal insult, defamation, physical injury, and penalties. Seventeenth Title of Law — Games: Covers gambling and betting. Eighteenth Title of Law — Miscellaneous: Contains additional rules not classified under the preceding titles.