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
141 (of 165)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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i (H) THE DISTINCTIVE EXPIATORY FEATURES I. PR膧YASCITTA : 809 1) INTERPRETATION OF THE PHRASE 'GURUTALPAGAMANAM'
Generally, the term 'guru in the phrase 'gurutalpagamana'
is interpreted as referring only to the father. But the author has
mentioned eleven gurus like Upadhyaya etc. in the verse (10).
Hence gurvang anagamana or gurutalpagamana would mean in that case
as, cohabitation with the wife of any of these eleven gurus (elderly
persons). This must be understood to be the interpretation,
suggested by Devala, because he states that in the offence of
gurutalpagamana, the cohabitation, especially with the wives of
Upadhyaya (teacher), r膩j膩 (king) & pit膩 (father) to be the most
severe heinous offence (1619). This clearly indicates that Devala
not only understands, the teacher, king and father by the word
guru in gurutalpagamana, but also other gurus, enumerated by him
(verse 10). Thus the author seems to give a very wide interpretation
of the above term. This is not a generally accepted meaning of it.
The Prayaviveka (p.134) also points out that though Devala has
enumerated eleven gurus, the father only is to be understood
here as guru & not acarya etc., as the cohabitation with his wife
would not be equal to gurutalpagamana & is understood as 'anupataka'
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The above agreement between the import of sutra in the praya-
scitta section (1613) & the verse in the acara section (verse 10),
about eleven guru's suggests that this sutra portion of Devala-
text & the verses in the first chapter, may be probably of the
