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 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti
103 (of 165)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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& children is termed as kamya, (IV) That gift, which depends upon the time, ritual & object (wealth etc.) is naimittika. 771 It is thus of three kinds & may or may not be performed with homa
(sacrificial offering). Similarly, whatever is given on such
occasions like eclipse, sankranti, pilgrimage & birth is also
called as naimittika gift.
f) THE THREE KINDS OF OBJECTS OF GIFT
(DEYA) :
viz.
The objects of gift are said to be of three kinds
best (uttama), medicore (madhyama), & of a low variety (adhama).
(918-923). Food, curds, honey, protection, cow, land, gold, horse,
& elephant these nine are gifts of the best (uttama) variety.
The gifts of garment, house, things of enjoyment and medicines,
are of a mediocre (madhyama) type. While shoes, swings, carts,
umbrellas, veseels, seats, lamps, fuel-sticks, fruits etc. & ch贸wry
that would last for a long period these & other numerous things
are considered to be the gifts of low nature (adhama)
g) THREE DESTRUCTIVE ELEMENTS :
r
The gifts, presented are nullified, by three destructive
causes, namely declaration of it to others, by praise of oneself
-
& repentance for the thing, given up. Hence one should avoid
these, if one wishes to obtain the real merit of the act of giving
gift (dana) (924-& 925).
1 Thus the whole treatment of dana is indeed a novel & original
contribution of the author.
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ghing I SEE
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