A. Short Description about the book:

Manusmṛti occupies a prominent place in the Indian textual tradition as one of the authentic sources of dharma. However, the contemporary engagement with the text has been wrought with prejudice and discomfort brought upon by colonialism.

The present work seeks to fill this gap in the contemporary approach and facilitate a better understanding through a philosophical study of the first four verses of Manusmṛti, which clarifies the object, purpose and relevance of dharma texts. Rather than reducing Manusmṛti, through a historicist study, into a relic of the past which merely serves as a document of past events, the book locates the text in its larger Hindu epistemological, ontological, and theological worldview and extracts the eternal teachings embedded within it. The book clarifies some of the common misconceptions regarding matters such as the definition of dharma, integrity and the importance of Manusmṛti, the notion of ritual competency, and the Hindu conception of varṇa.

The book draws from the entire Hindu textual landscape from Vedas and Upaniṣads to Smṛtis, Itihāsa-Purāṇas, and Gītā. It cites the work of many renowned acharyas such as Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, Vallabhācārya, Sāyaṇācārya, Kumārīla Bhaṭṭa, and Śrī Aurobindo.

B. Short Bio of Author:

Nithin Sridhar is a published author and speaker based in Mysuru. He works as the Director of the INDICA Centre for Moksha Studies, dedicated to create, curate, and promote content on Hindu philosophy with a special focus on Vedanta. He has authored seven books and one book chapter dealing with various aspects of Hindu philosophy and practice. His widely acclaimed books include ‘Menstruation Across Cultures: A Historical Perspective’, 'Samanya Dharma' and ‘Isopanisad: An English Commentary’. His new book titled 'Chatuh Shloki Manusmriti' is a commentary on the opening verses of Manusmriti and provides a gateway to understand the purpose, relevance, and subject matter of Dharmashastras. He regularly contributes on issues ranging from politics and society to religion, culture, and philosophy to various media platforms and teaches courses on Indian Knowledge System subjects at INDICA Courses.

C. Short Book Review by Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor, Central Sanskrit University

An insightful work that explores just four shlokas from the Manusmriti—but with great depth and clarity. This book serves as a model for students and researchers in Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) who aspire to conduct focused textual studies.

The core of the book is a well-grounded discussion on the Varṇa concept, drawing from authentic commentaries rather than modern distortions. A must-read for advanced learners seeking genuine insights into Dharmaśāstra.

Congratulations to Shri Nithin Sridhar on this scholarly contribution!

Link to the book- https://www.amazon.in/dp/8119670914