MANU-SAMHITĀ (Manu-Saṃhitā), also Mānava-Dharmashāstra or Smriti, Skt.; the lawbook of Manu. It is said to go back to ancient times and to derive from Manu; however, it bears signs of the work of various hands. One of the authors is held to be Vaivasvata.
This work, the first and most important of those designated as smriti, is the foundation of Hindu society and arose before the philosophical schools. It was first disseminated by the Mānavas, a group of brahmans who followed the Black Yajurveda. The work deals not only with laws but with many other aspects of the old Hindu community as well. It originally consisted of twenty-four chapters containing a total of 100,000 verses, which were reduced to 12,000 by Nārada. Sumati reduced them further to 4,000; today only 2,685 verses are extant.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on the Manu-Samhitā
Books on the Manu-Samhitā
External link: Manusmriti
Manú