Recent excavations in the Narmada River Basin have revealed a series of stone inscriptions dating back to the 4th century BCE. Titled the 'Dharma-Samya-Vritti', these texts outline a sophisticated ethical system based on the principle of 'Samya' (Equanimity and Equality), predating the major social treatises of the Mauryan era.
The inscriptions detail specific responsibilities for leaders to maintain a 'weighted balance' in social interactions, emphasizing that justice is a dynamic process of calibration rather than a fixed set of laws. This finding suggests a thriving tradition of secular ethics rooted in Vedic metaphysical principles of balance (Rta) applied to civic governance.