New Delhi, July 11 -- Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta on Saturday said that the Vedas are not a direct source of law but serve as the oldest written repository of wisdom, offering guidance on living in harmony with one's surroundings and inner self.

Delivering a lecture on the relationship between ancient scriptures and modern law, SG Mehta said Hindu law primarily emanated from the Smritis, including the Yajnavalkya Smriti, Manu Smriti, Narada Smriti and Parasara Smriti, which he described as legal commentaries authored by ancient scholars specialising in law.

Tracing the evolution of Hindu jurisprudence, the Solicitor General said that two principal schools of Hindu law, Mitakshara and Dayabhaga, have existed in India since an...