Published Paper Details:

Abstract The Manusa?hit? long regarded as a foundational text in Indian legal and social thought, also contains a rich, though often overlooked, reservoir of ecological wisdom. At a time when environmental degradation threatens planetary health, this paper revisits the Manusa?hit? through the lens of environmental ethics, revealing its relevance to contemporary ecological challenges. Far from being a relic of a bygone era, the text offers a sophisticated vision of human-nature relationships rooted in restraint, responsibility, and reverence for all forms of life. Modern environmental ethics--shaped by thinkers such as Aldo Leopold, Peter Singer, Holmes Rolston, Tom Regan, and Paul Taylor--seeks to address the moral obligations of humans toward non-human entities and ecosystems. The Manusa?hit? anticipates many of these concerns through its integrated cosmology and dharmic directives. It presents nature not as a passive resource but a living, sacred entity with intrinsic value and moral standing. The paper examines Manu's approach to plants, animals, and natural elements such as water, soil etc. Plants are recognized as sentient beings enveloped in tamas, and their destruction is subject to ethical scrutiny and penance. Animal welfare is approached with a nuanced balance between ritual practice and non-violence, advocating compassion and justice for all creatures. Environmental components like rivers, forests, and arable land are protected through detailed rules that prohibit pollution, waste, and overexploitation--offering a proto-legal framework for ecological preservation. Through its analysis, the study demonstrates how the Manusa?hit? advances a holistic ethical paradigm--one in which ecological sustainability is inseparable from spiritual and social duties. By reinterpreting ancient dharma in dialogue with contemporary ecological thought, the paper reveals the enduring significance of indigenous wisdom for shaping a sustainable and ethically grounded future.