Raghavendra Kumar Tripathi ‘Raghav’–
Scholars Of Hinduism point to the inconsistencies and have questioned the authenticity of verses, and the extent to which verses were changed, inserted or interpolated into the original, at a later date. For example, states that less than half, or only 1,214 of the 2,685 verses in Manusmriti, may be authentic. Further, the verses are internally inconsistent. Verses such as 3.55-3.62 of Manusmriti, for example, glorify the position of women, while verse such as 9.3 and 9.17 do the opposite. Other passages found in Manusmriti, such as those relating to Ganesha, are modern era insertions and forgeries.
Robert E. Van Voorst states that the verses from 3.55-60 may be about respect given to a woman in her home, but within a strong patriarchal system.
It is not necessary that any one adopted all verses of text. It is their choice that what he adopt?
In context of Manusmriti Mahatma Gandhi said- “I hold Manusmriti as part of Shastras. But that does not mean that I swear by every verse that is printed in the book described as Manusmriti. There are so many contradictions in the printed volume that, if you accept one part, you are bound to reject those parts that are wholly inconsistent with it. (…) Nobody is in possession of the original text.”
● Many thoughts of Manusmriti guided us for better like caste is not by birth actually it gained by me. (Verses 12/109, 12/114, 9/335, 10/65, 2/103, 2/155-58, 2/168, 2/148, 2/28)
● Education for all is also concept of Manusmriti. (Verses 2/198-215)
● Women are not inferior than men. Women are respected (sacred) according to Manusmriti. (Verses-3/56-62, 9/192-200)
