The Concept of Theft in Classical Hindu Law

This work is mainly based on an analysis of primary sources, such as Manu Smrti, Yajnavalkya Smrti, and glosses ascribed to commentators, such as Kulluka, Medhatithi, Vijnanesvara, and others. The author has scrupulously referred to the established scholarly material in this field, and has created a lively debate, accepting or rejecting any given rendition or point of view. This study should contribute significantly to our knowledge of the Hindu’s sense of moral obligation to justice. Chanchal Bhattacharya sets out by analyzing the concept of theft and punishment in the classical Hindu law codes. He then presents an extensive selection of relevant texts and commentaries which not only elucidate the context, but also underscore the genius of the commentary literature. In the last portion of the book, the author provides his own translation and interpretations, which should prove invaluable to scholars. In cases where notable conflicts of opinion exist, the author has annotated reasons for his preferences. Readers will also find that he has broken new ground. His boldness in dealing with the difficult task of handling Kautilya’s text and its different translations and interpretations is especially noteworthy. This book should capture the scholarly imagination of anyone interested in the very fundamentals of Hindu jurisprudence.