In ancient Indian legal and religious literature, the text known as Manu Smriti mainly deals with which broad subject area?

Introduction / Context:
Manu Smriti, also known as the Laws of Manu, is one of the most famous Dharmashastra texts in ancient Indian literature. It attempts to lay down comprehensive rules about duties, rights, behaviour, and social order. Many questions in general knowledge and history test whether learners can correctly identify the main focus of this text, as opposed to confusing it with treatises on politics or economics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The text in question is Manu Smriti.
• It belongs to the Dharmashastra tradition of Hindu law books.
• Options mention social order and laws, economics, and state craft.

Concept / Approach:
Dharmashastra works like Manu Smriti are primarily concerned with Dharma, a term that in this context refers to duties, moral obligations, and legal rules for different sections of society. Manu Smriti discusses topics such as the duties of different varnas, stages of life, marriage, inheritance, punishment, and rituals. While it may touch upon aspects of governance, its core content is social and legal, not a manual of economics or pure political state craft. Therefore, the correct approach is to link Manu Smriti with social order and laws.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Manu Smriti is classified as a Dharmashastra text. Step 2: Understand that Dharmashastra literature focuses on rules of conduct, duties, and social organisation. Step 3: Note that Manu Smriti includes chapters on varna duties, marriage, family relations, inheritance, and punishments for crimes. Step 4: Recognise that topics like detailed economic theory or political strategy are not its primary concern. Step 5: Therefore, identify social order and laws governing duties and conduct as its main subject area.

Verification / Alternative check:
Summaries and translations of Manu Smriti consistently describe it as a code of law and social conduct rather than an economic or purely political treatise. This matches the broader understanding of Dharmashastra as legal religious literature.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Economics and state revenue are more central to texts like Arthashastra, which deal with state craft and economic policy. Pure state craft and military science also belong to Arthashastra tradition rather than Manu Smriti. While Manu Smriti has some references to kingship and punishment, they are subordinate to its main goal of regulating social order.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse Manu Smriti with Arthashastra because both are classical Sanskrit works. Remembering that Arthashastra focuses on artha, meaning material prosperity and politics, whereas Manu Smriti focuses on dharma, helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:
Manu Smriti mainly deals with social order and laws governing duties and conduct in ancient Indian society.