56. Samvarta
Volume I: Part I pp. 541–543
Samvarta is prominently recognized as a dharmaśāstrakāra, notably mentioned as such by Yājñavalkya. His work was extensively cited across virtually all topics of dharma by eminent commentators such as Viśvarūpa, Medhātithi, and in the foundational text of the Mitākṣarā. Further attesting to his authority and widespread acceptance, Aparārka specifically quotes approximately 200 verses attributed to Samvarta. Among his contributions, some of his views on *vyavahāra* are particularly noteworthy. The currently available printed version of the Saṁvarta text comprises around 230 verses. It is also important to recognize that his teachings circulated in various forms, as evidenced by references to both a Bṛhat Saṁvarta and a Svalpa Saṁvarta.
— Synopsis by P.V. Kane, from History of Dharmaśāstra
56. Samvarta
56. Saṃvarta Parāśara, Manu, Yājñavalkya, Yama and Śaunaka are cited by name.673 The Saṃgraha or Smṛtisaṃgraha must have contained a very large number of verses, since the Smṛticandrikā alone quotes several hundred verses, from it on ‘āhnika, Vyavahāra and Śrāddha’. The Vyavahāra-nirṇaya of Varadarāja states ( on p. 324 ) that the view of Saṃgrahakāra is relied upon by Dhāreśvarabhaṭṭa !
56. Saṃvarta Saṃvarta occurs as a Smṛtikāra in the list of Yājñavalkya. He is cited on all topics of dharma by Viśvarūpa, Medhātithi, the Mit., Haradatta, Aparārka, the Smṛticandrikā and a host of other writerṣ Viśvarūpa quotes either wholly or in part about twenty verses of Saṃvarta on evening sandhyāvandana, on the duties of a yati and on the prāyaścittas for theft, adultery of various kinds, deadly sinṣ Medhātithi quotes verses of Saṃvarta on Manu V. 88 and XI. 116. The Mit. quotes him on prāyaścitta and āśauca ( Yāj. III. 6. 17 19 etc. ). Aparārka had a large work before him and quotes about 200 verses almost all on ācāra and prāyaścitta.
A few of the views of Saṃvarta on topics of vyavahāra may be noted here. According to him oral testimony when in opposition to writing was to be discardeḍ674 This is in striking agreement with section 92 of the Indian Evidence Act. He says that if houses and fields are being enjoyed ( by one person as against another ) when the king is there ( i. e. when the central government is strong and there is no anarchy ), then it is possession that counts and not mere writing ( i. e. possession will be protected and not mere paper possession ).3 He lays down that no interest was to be allowed if not stipulated for in certain cases, viz., on strīdhana ( when used by the husband ), on interest, on deposit ( as long as it is not lost or deteriorated ) and in suretyship.4 He enumerates ten wrongs ( aparādhas ) of which the king was to take cognisance suo motu without any private person's complaint, viz., restraint of the defendant ( before judgment ), obstruction of the public road, women conceiving in adultery, becoming rich without any ostensible means, destruction of a meeting hall and of trees and crops, kidnapping of maidens, sinning Brāhmaṇas, champerty and maintenance, destruction of the roads where tolls are to be paid, the danger of robbers, rape, injury to cows and Brāh- maṇaṣ5 He prescribed that disputes were not to be investi- gated on the full moon and new moon day, and on the 14th and 8th tithis. ( Vide Par. M. Vol. II. p. 23 ).
In Jivananda's collection ( part I, pp. 584-603 ) and in the Ānandāśrama collection ( pp. 411-424 ) there is a smṛti of Saṁvarta in 227 and 230 verses respectively. It purports to have been declared to Vāmadeva and other sages by Saṁvarta. Its main contents are:— that is the religious country where the black deer roam about, rules of conduct for a Brahma- cārin, prāyaścittas for various lapses on the part of a student, duties of householder, eulogy of liberality, duties of forest hermit and saṃnyāsin, prāyaścittas for various sins and actionṣ Saṃvarta is sometimes cited as an authority (verses 38, 123 ). He recommends the marriages of girls at the age of eight (verse 67 ) and condemns marriage with a maternal uncle's daughter (verse 157 ).
In a few Msṣ ( e. g. I. O. cat. No. 1367 ) the Saṃvarta-smṛti comprised is different from the printed Saṃvarta.
The printed smṛti appears to be an epitome of a portion of the original smṛti of Saṃvarta. Many of the verses in the printed texts are found in Aparārka. For example, Aparārka p. 14=Saṃvarta verse 6; Aparārka p. 693=Saṃvarta verses 107–108; Aparārka p. 1053 = Saṃvarta verses 111–113; Aparārka p. 1094 ( eight verses out of which five ) =Saṃvarta verses 130–34. The pāda of Saṃvarta which Viśvarūpa quotes (ardhastamitabhāskarām ) on Yāj. I. 25 occurs in verse 6 of the printed text. This shows that the printed smṛti preserves very ancient material, the authenticity of which is vouched for by so early a writer as Viśvarūpa.
The Mit. quotes a Bṛhat-Saṃvarta ( on Yāj. III. 265 288 ).
A Svalpa-Saṃvarta is quoted in Harinātha's Smṛtisāra.