23, Contributions to the History of Smrti in Bengal and 
ila 
Part II. Mrruiva. 
By Rat Monmonan CHAkRAVARTI Banaper. 
Nothing is known about the early Smrtic literature of 
Mithila. According to tradition, the sage Yajfiavalkya, the 
reputed author of the Yajnavalkya-samhita, adorned the court 
of Janaka a king of this land. The extant version of the 
Samhita from its metrical form, its mention of the coin Nanaka 
and of week-days and from other reasons is believed to be not 
earlier than the fourth century 4.D.! 
The mediaeval Smrtic literature of Mithila cannot be traced 
eatlier than the thirteenth century. From that time for two 
centuries and a half, Smrti flourished in Mithila, flourished so 
luxuriantly that the writers came to be regar as forming a 
i. 
Very little is known at present about these Maithili Smrti- 
writers. In the present paper the subject will be dealt wit 
mate times. Most of the principal writers appear to have been 
patronized by the kings of Mithila. ge 
Political history of the land would be useful in ascertaining the 
imes of the writers, and my paper on that subject might be 
consulted for the purpose.” For facility of reference the writers 
_ will be discussed chronologically under two sub-heads : 
| A. The Earlier Period, or the rule of the Karnata 
nasty. ee 
B. The Later Period, or the rule of the Kamesvara 
Dynasty. 
1 1883, p. 49 (not eo jue ~ 
' first century a.p.): ditto, the Sacred Books of the East, Vol. ’ 
oduction, Pp. Bae (not. earlier than the 3rd century A.D.) ; Professor 
a8 Macdonnell, Sanskrit Literature, p. 429 (about a.D. 350). 
. 2 See J.A.S.B., 1915, pp. 1-27. 
E 
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