Archaeologists working in the Krishna River basin have uncovered a series of limestone pillars inscribed with what appears to be a comprehensive legal and ethical code titled the 'Niti-Vada-Kosh'. These inscriptions, dated to the 4th-century BCE, provide a detailed look at the "Philosophy of Proportional Justice," emphasizing that social responsibilities should be weighed against one's access to resources.
The text explicitly mentions the concept of 'Samatva-Dharma', or the duty of maintaining social equilibrium through targeted redistribution and restorative justice. This find is significant as it predates many known legal treatises in the region and offers a glimpse into a highly structured moral philosophy that governed early riverine societies in the Deccan.