A 12th-century palm-leaf manuscript titled the Jnana-Niti-Sagara has been identified within the archives of a traditional library in Thanjavur. The work is a philosophical treatise on the stewardship of knowledge, arguing that intellectual wealth (Jnana) must be governed by strict ethical principles (Niti) to prevent its misuse. The text explores the responsibilities of scholars, teachers, and kings in the preservation and dissemination of wisdom traditions.
The manuscript is notable for its early discussion of what modern scholars would call epistemic justice—the idea that knowledge must be accessible and used for the upliftment of all levels of society. The Jnana-Niti-Sagara serves as a reminder of the deeply ethical foundation of medieval Indian intellectual life, where the pursuit of truth was seen as inseparable from the duty to act for the universal good.