Vacanamala: A Sub-Commentary on Visvarupa's Commentary Balakrida On The Yajnavalkya Dharmasastra (Sources of Ancient Indian Law)

Patrick Olivelle is a renowned Indologist, Sanskrit scholar, and historian of Indian religions, widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to the study of ancient Indian intellectual, religious, and legal traditions. He has specialized in the fields of Hinduism, Buddhism, Dharmaśāstra, ascetic traditions, and classical Sanskrit literature.

Born in Sri Lanka and educated in India and Europe, Olivelle has held prominent academic positions in leading institutions and is especially associated with the The University of Texas at Austin, where he served as Professor in the Department of Asian Studies. His scholarship is distinguished by rigorous philological analysis, careful textual criticism, and a deep engagement with the historical and cultural contexts of Sanskrit texts.

Patrick Olivelle is particularly celebrated for his authoritative translations and studies of foundational Hindu scriptures and legal texts, including the Upaniṣads, the Manusmṛti, the Āśrama system, and early ascetic literature. His works have become standard academic references for students and scholars of Indian philosophy, religion, and history.

Among his most influential publications are translations of the Upaniṣads, studies on renunciation in ancient India, and critical editions of Dharmaśāstra texts. Through his extensive writings, Olivelle has significantly advanced modern understanding of classical Indian civilization and the evolution of Hindu religious and social thought.