Status of Scripture

A difficult question for the lover of truth is this : What books should be given the status of a shastra (scripture)? There are works in Sanskrit called smritis which contain contradictory man of faith to do? As a way out of this difficulty, I have adopted this general principle of Hinduism, namely, that whatever practice is in conflict with truth and non-violence should be held as prohibited, and any book that upholds such evil practices should not be looked upon as a shastra.

(Recorded under November 8, 1932; ibid., p. 218; translated from the Hindi.)