Shree Vishnu Smriti - English

Vishnu Smriti is one of the latest Hindu works of the tradition that stipulates what are righteous deals under different circumstances - in other words, one of the latest books of the Dharmashastra tradition. It does not deal directly with the means of knowing dharma, unlike forerunners in this book tradition. The first known commentary on the Vishnu Smriti appeared in 1622. Julius Jolly translated the Vishnu Smriti into English in 1880.

The Vishnu Smriti seems to rely to a large extent on previous Dharmashastra texts, such as the Manu Samhita.

The Vishnu Smriti's frame story is a dialogue betwee Vishnu and the Earth (Prithvi) that at first is submerged under water. Vishnu rescues her, lifting her up out of the water and exposing her surface. Earth is grateful but worries about the future. Vishnu assures her that good people who take delight in fit conduct and orderliness, would care for the Earth and support her. Comforted, the Earth asks for some more information to benefit by, and Vishnu then goes into telling what is proper conduct and dharma.