Devala-smriti (critical study)
by Mukund Lalji Wadekar | 1982 | 67,394 words
This essay represents an English study of the Devala-smriti—an ancient text attributed to sage Devala classified as belonging to the Dharma-Shastra branch of Indian literature which encompasses jurisprudence and religious law. This study deals with the reconstructed text of the Devalasmriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala’s unique...
10.1. Enumeration of seven kinds of Darbhas
[Full title: (F) The distinctive ritualistic features; (I) The necessary ingredients of ritual Darbha, Pavitra, Kurca etc. (1) Enumeration of seven kinds of Darbhas].
The seven kinds of darbhas (sacrificial grass) are mentioned in the text (469). They are kusa, kasa, usira, durva, vrihi, visvamitra & kutha. (The verse contains repetition of the word 1 1 kusa & hence the reading 'kuthascaiva' for 'kusascaiva' is suggested. But yet the phrase 'visvamitrah kuthascaiva' is ambiguous. Devala intends to refer to two kinds of darbhas by it. The other kinds of darbhas are wellknown & are enumerated also in the lists of ten 1 varieties of darbhas, occurring in the quotations' found in the Nirnayas indhu & the Dharmas indhu. � Devala (470) also prescribes that the darbhas, of the following kinds should always be avoided. (1) those that are pregnant with other darbhas (2) short-tips of which are cut with nails (3) those that are boiled (4) those that are burnt with fire.