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 4 - Methodology of Reconstruction
2 (of 6)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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MEANING OF THE TERM 'RECONSTRUCTION' IN THE PRESENT CONTEXT:
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The original texts of numerous smrtis have been completely
or partially lost. But the works on Dharmasastra, i.e. the digests
& commentaries contain numerous quotations from the extinct smrtis.
The earlier commentators & digest-makers had before them the
original texts of such smrtis. The quotations, occurring in the
later works, (that might not have the original texts of some smrtis
are also authentic & reliable, as they have quoted the sutras
& the verses from the extinct smrtis, on the basis of the earlier
works, the digests & commentaries, on Dharmasastra.
The collection of such quotations of a lost smrti from those
works, & classification & arrangement of them, in accordance with
the smrti-topics, dealt with in them, is meant by the term
'Reconstruction' in the present context.
PROCEDURE OF RECONSTRUCTION :
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The original & complete text of Devalasmrti, is no longer
existing. The printed Devalasmrti, of about 90 verses, is also
a fragmentary & later work, ascribed to Devala. It deals mainly
with the problem of re-admittance by purification of persons,
associated with the Mlecchas. But the digests & commentaries on
Dharmasastra, contain hundreds of quotations, pertaining to the
varied topics of Dharma, from the lost original text of Devala.
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