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
104 (of 165)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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THE THINGS NOT FIT TO BE GIVEN TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
Some objects are prohibited to be given to certain individuals
(931-933). The cooked food should not be given to the house-holders,
curds to the forest hermit & livelihood to those who live on alms.
The sudra should not be given the clarified butter, milk, sesamum,
honey & word 'svasti' nor should one take these things from him.
The milk, gold, land, cow, sesamum, honey, ghee & all kinds of
juices should not be presented to a candala.
3)
THE EIGHT KINDS OF QUALIFIED BRAHMANAS :
who are
The gifts are to be given to the brahmanas. The brahmanas
'patra', qualified for accepting gifts are described to be
of eight kinds, according to their qualities & conduct. They are
enumerated as matra, brahmana, srotriya, anucana, bhr奴na, rsikalpa,
峁涐梗i & muni. Each latter is superior to the earlier one, with
advanced qualities & character. They are then explained by pointing.
out characteristic features of each of them. (934-944). The vaikha-
nasa G.S.(1.1) also explains briefly these eight kinds of brahmanas.
V. PURIFICATION OF SUBSTANCES (DRAVYA'S UDDHI):
1) NATURE OF PURITY & IMPURITY (MEDHYAMEDHYANTR弄PANA
The most saliant feature in Devala's treatment of dravyasuddhi
topic, is the elaborate elucidation of the nature of purity &
impurity.
NATURE OF PURITY :
The author first emumerates the four varieties of purity
explains each of them in the order of enumeration (1052-1075).
