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 8 - Devala-Smriti (a summary of the reconstructed text)
7 (of 16)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
850
Firstly, the attitude for giving gifts is praised (885-889).
Then the subject of dana is dealt with in details, by explaining
the various constituents of it, These constituents are
-
(1) two causes (hetus), (2) six grounds (adhisth膩nas), (3) six
elements (angas), (4) six effects, (vipakas), (5) four kinds (prak膩ras),
(6) threefold division (trividham), (7) three destructive elements
(trinasam) (890鈥�930).
1 The articles that are not fit to be given to certain individuals
are mentioned (931-933).
The eight kinds of Brahmanas, who are fit for receiving gifts
are defined (934-947). The gifts of cooked food (annadana) (952-960),
cow (961-970), bull (971-974), land (975-980), visvacakra (988-993)
are highly praised.
--
璀�
The sins, that are involved in the acceptance of gifts of
brahmanda (1005), & tul膩 (1006 1009) are mentioned. The
expiation for accepting the gift of Mahabhutaghata is prescribed
(1010-1022). The elaborate procedure of re-initiation (punahs a峁僺k膩ra),
which is necessary to be undergone by the acarya (preceptor), who
accepts the gifts of tula etc., is dealt with (1023-1050).
PRAKARANA IX - DRAVYASUDDHIH
This prakarana deals with the subject of purification of
substances.
"
Hence, the subject of purity & impurity (medhyatva & amedhyatva)
altone's
