[Advaita-l] Veda as source of dharma.

[Praveen R. Bhat]

Hari Om, Sarmaji,

2011/10/9 D.V.N.Sarma డి.వి.ఎన్.శర్మ <dvnsarma at gmail.com>

>
> अथातस्सामयाचारिकान् धर्मान् व्याख्यास्यामः।(1.1)
> धर्मज्ञ समयः प्रमाणम्।(1.2)
> वेदाश्च।(1.3)
>
> The first place is given to the instruction of people who know dharma.
> Second place is given to Veda.
>

I'm just wondering about what the terminology "people who know dharma"
means. To my understanding it perhaps means those that follow the tradition
(of dharma). Then naturally, the question would arise as to where did they
learn the dharma from? Tracing back in the tradition, I'd assume that it
would lead to one rishi or another, which would mean shruti.


>
> Gautama Dharmasutra says.
>
> तुल्यबलविरोधे विकल्पः।(1.4)
>
> If the veda and instruction of people who know dharma are opposite and
> of equal strength either can be followed.
>

mImAMsakAs hold that even smritis are based around a lost/untraceable Vedic
injunction and equally valid source of dharma. When they are 'perceived' to
be opposing, they prefer the shruti.

praNAm,
--Praveen R. Bhat
/* Through what should one know That owing to which all this is known!
[Br.Up. 4.5.15] */