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—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 Devala-smriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala’s unique viewpoints on social, religious, and philosophical aspects, particularly the Sankhya and Yoga philosophies.
Chapter 7 - The home of Devala
2 (of 6)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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INTRODUCTORY The smrti-quotations, ascribed to Devala, occurring in the digests & commentaries on Dharmasastra are compiled & arranged. in the present Reconstructed Text. The problem of the home of Devala, the author of quotations of the present Reconstructed Text is considered here with the help of external & internal evidences. 643 1) EXTERNAL EVIDENCE :
(1) In the Mahabharata, Devala is mentioned among the sages,
fit to be always remembered (nityasmaraniya), that belonged the
Northern Direction¹.
(2) In the Mahabharata, Devala is also mentioned to be living
at the Adityatirtha, on the bank of river Sarasvati.
Thus according to the Mahabharata, North India, was the
home of Devala.
INTERNAL EVIDENCES :
(1) The chapter on Tirthayatra (III.5) of the Reconstructed
Text is full of references to various sacred places. Both Northern
& Southern sacred places, are referred to in it. But the
references to the places from North India are frequent in the other
chapters of the text. This may suggest close acquaintance or
familiarity of the author with the North India.
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