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11th-Century 'Yukti-Dharma-Sangraha' Manuscript Discovered in Bikaner Archive Reshapes History of Vedic Social Ethics

📅 April 9, 2026 📰 Ancient Origins
11th-Century 'Yukti-Dharma-Sangraha' Manuscript Discovered in Bikaner Archive Reshapes History of Vedic Social Ethics

A previously undocumented manuscript, the Yukti-Dharma-Sangraha, has been identified within the Rajasthan State Archives in Bikaner. Written in early Devanagari script on handmade paper, the 11th-century work challenges the traditional view that Vedic social laws were viewed as static or unchangeable divine decrees.

Instead, the text presents a Yukti (logic-based) defense of the social contract, arguing that ethical duties must evolve through public deliberation and logical inquiry. This 'reasoning of duty' suggests that medieval Indian philosophers possessed a highly sophisticated and rationalist approach to governance and human rights, emphasizing the welfare of the collective over the literal interpretation of ancient texts.

Original source: Ancient Origins