Essay name: Devala-smriti (critical study)
Author:
Mukund Lalji Wadekar
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
This essay represents an English study of the Devala-smriti鈥攁n 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 Devala-smriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala鈥檚 unique viewpoints on social, religious, and philosophical aspects, particularly the Sankhya and Yoga philosophies.
Chapter 3 - Regarding Smriti
15 (of 19)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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B: THE EXINCTION OF SMRTIS : CAUSES THEREOF 80' 1 The digests & commentaries on Dharmasastra, contain plentiful
quotations from numerous smrtis. It was previously mentioned that
the original texts of many of them have been completely or partially
lost. The original text of Devalasmrti is also not at all
available & has become extinct. Hence the reasons for the extinction
of smrtis are considered here.
1 GENERAL REASONS :
77 (1) In ancient India, there was an oral method for the
trasmission of knowledge. But due to the gradual degradation
L
in the merit & competancy of the students 1, the original knowledge
might have been gradually lost by being not transferred. The
foreign invasions & war etc. also interrupted the oral transmission
of knowledge.
(2) There was scarcity of all kinds of writing material.
The emphasis was given upon memorizing a particular treatise & reading
or copying a manuscript was not generally encouraged虏.
(3) During foreign invasions, numerous libraries & manuscript-
collections were destroyed by the invaders. When there was foreign
rule, the study & propagation of ancient texts was diminishing, due
to the absence of royal patronage.
(4) The Mahabharata & the Puranas, absorbed almost all material,
relating to the smrti-topics. Hence, there was reluctance &
