Dharma Shastras — the codes of conduct

Topics — Sources of dharma, the 4 varnas, the 4 ashramas, marriage (8 types), the 16 samskaras, dietary law, women's duties, kingly duties (rajadharma), 18 forms of judicial dispute, taxation, criminal punishment, civil law (debt, inheritance, property), prayaschitta (expiation), transmigration.

Distinctive — The most-cited, most-commented-on smriti. Also the most controversial in the modern context for its varna-dharma codification. Yet structurally the model of all subsequent smritis.

Modern relevance — British colonial law treated Manu Smriti as "Hindu law" — the source-text for Anglo-Hindu jurisprudence 1772-1947. Largely superseded by the Hindu Code Bills (1955-56) but still studied in classical law schools.

Topics — Achara: daily duties, marriage, samskaras, women, ashramas. Vyavahara: judicial procedure, witnesses, evidence, 18 disputes, property, inheritance. Prayaschitta: expiations for sins, doshas, ritual lapses.

Distinctive — Considered the most balanced and "judicial" of the smritis. More respect for women than Manu (women's property rights to "stridhana" are codified here).

Modern relevance — The Mitakshara commentary (Vijnaneshwara, 12th C) on Yajnavalkya Smriti is the FOUNDATIONAL text of Hindu inheritance law. Most of South India + North India (except Bengal) follows Mitakshara. Bengal follows the Dayabhaga commentary.

Topics — Conduct specifically tailored for Kali Yuga — less stringent than Manu or Yajnavalkya. Widow remarriage, inter-caste marriage rules, expiations adapted for Kali.

Distinctive — Self-described as the smriti FOR Kali Yuga ("Kalau Parasharah smritih"). The other smritis are for Treta + Dvapara; this one accommodates human weakness in Kali.

Modern relevance — Often cited by reformers (Vidyasagar in his widow-remarriage campaign cited Parashara). Most relevant for current householders seeking dharma-guidance.

Topics — Dharma framed entirely as Vishnu-worship. Each rule justified as pleasing Vishnu rather than abstract dharma. Pilgrimage prescriptions, naivedyam offerings, vrata-vidhis.

Distinctive — Most Vaishnava of the smritis. Used as the authority for Vaishnava daily ritual.

Modern relevance — Foundational for Sri Vaishnava + Madhva traditions' daily conduct. Less cited in courts.

Topics — Mainly achara — daily routine, samskaras, eating rules, sleep, study, worship. Less judicial.

Distinctive — Strict on daily conduct. Famous shloka: "Snanam danam japo homo brahmacharyam vrata tapah / kshama satyamahimsa cha danadharmah samah" — listing 10 components of dharma.

Modern relevance — Cited in commentary on daily achara. Less in legal context.

Topics — Daily routine, samskaras, brahmacharya duties, householder duties, dharma definitions, prayaschitta.

Distinctive — Most South Indian brahmana families follow the Apastamba sutra (Apastamba-shakha). The grihya-sutra portion governs all home-rituals from upanayana to antyeshti.

Modern relevance — Daily home-rituals (samskaras, sandhya vandana, shraddha) of South Indian Smarta brahmanas follow Apastamba.

Topics — Same scope as Apastamba but more pancharatra-influenced. Special focus on Vaishnava observances.

Distinctive — Bodhayana-sutra brahmanas follow this. Pancharatra Agama traditions reference Bodhayana for daily ritual structure.

Modern relevance — Sri Vaishnava brahmanas use Bodhayana sutra for daily home-rituals.

Topics — Brahmana duties, sources of dharma, 8 types of marriage, women's duties, prayaschitta, ascetic duties.

Distinctive — Earliest extant text to define "shruti and smriti and conduct of the good" as the three sources of dharma.

Modern relevance — Cited in classical legal commentaries; less in modern legal practice.

Topics — Brahmana code, the 4 ashramas, the 40 samskaras (Gautama lists 40 rather than 16), inheritance, criminal law, daily routine.

Distinctive — Lists the 40 samskaras (most other texts list 16-25). Apocalyptically strict on caste duties.

Modern relevance — Cited in academic studies of early dharma codification. The 40-samskara list is sometimes referenced in scholarly ritual reconstructions.

Topics — Primarily judicial — court procedure, 18 dispute categories, contracts, debt, witness examination, ordeals, criminal law. Almost no achara.

Distinctive — The first "purely legal" smriti — no ritual content, only law. Sometimes called "the Hindu Roman law".

Modern relevance — Studied by historians of jurisprudence. Cited in some judgments on traditional contract law.

Topics — Vyavahara (judicial). Considered the most authoritative on civil law alongside Yajnavalkya.

Distinctive — Brihaspati explicitly states that custom (achara) trumps even smriti — a remarkable concession to local variation. Lost-text status.

Modern relevance — Survives only through quotations in dharma-shastra digests (Mitakshara, Vyavahara Mayukha, etc).

Topics — Vyavahara, with detailed civil law sections. Famous for the doctrine of stridhana (women's separate property).

Distinctive — The MOST liberal of the smritis on women's property. Defined stridhana broadly to include all gifts to women and protected this property from husband's creditors.

Modern relevance — The stridhana doctrine continues to be invoked in Indian family courts.

Topics — Mostly achara + samskaras + prayaschitta. Less judicial.

Distinctive — Compiles teachings of other smritis with Vyasa's harmonising commentary.

Modern relevance — Cited in pancharatra + smarta tradition commentaries.

Topics — Mostly prayaschitta — expiations for ritual lapses and accidental sins (touching a corpse, breaking fast, etc).

Distinctive — Most detailed prayaschitta catalogue.

Modern relevance — Still consulted by orthodox pandits for kshudra-papa-prayaschitta.

Topics — Antyeshti rituals, sapindikarana, pitri-shraddha, garuda purana extracts.

Distinctive — Most detailed antyeshti smriti — supplements the Garuda Purana Preta-kanda.

Modern relevance — Used by purohitas conducting 13-day shraddha. The /wisdom/antyeshti procedure references Yama Smriti.

Topics — Mainly grihastha-dharma (householder duties). Family ethics, husband-wife relations, child-rearing.

Distinctive — Householder-centric. Strong on family-harmony as the foundation of dharma.

Modern relevance — Still cited for household-dispute resolution by orthodox panchayats.

Topics — Mostly daily achara + ashrama-dharma + occasional vyavahara. The famous Shankha-Likhita debate-stories are embedded in this smriti.

Distinctive — Composed by two brother-rishis who lived in perfect harmony — emblematic of dharma between equals.

Modern relevance — Less cited in modern courts but referenced in classical achara digests.

Topics — Ashrama-dharma, samskaras, daily routine, varna-dharma.

Distinctive — Closes the canonical 18. Most concise.

Modern relevance — Studied in classical Veda-shala curriculum.