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
147 (of 165)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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of period. In case of some sins, punishment & penance, both were prescribed for the sinner. 815 (7) It may be added that even the monetary or financial
condition of a person is to be taken into consideration, while
prescribing certain expiations. For example, while prescribing
the svarnakrechra (2151) it is mentioned that the king or a
wealthy person (mahaprabhu) should give gold of the amount of
a varaha (a coin, equal to five rupakas. One rupaka one masa
of five gunjas), half of it, should be donated by a middle class
person, & half of that of the latter, should be prescribed for other
ordinary people.
(8) The decision of the assembly about prescription of
expiation should be unanimous as far as possible.
3) DUTY OF A KING AS AN IMPOSER OF KRCCHRA :
The king declares some punishment & penalty for the guity
person. Similarly, it is also his duty to impose a particular
expiation upon the criminal. According Devala (1893), the king
is the imposer of K峁沜chras, the dharmapathaka (the religious
adviser) is the indicator or adviser of it, while the sinner
is the subject of expiation & king's officers are the protectors
i.e.executive authorities of the prescribed expiation. This verse
suggests that like punishments, even expiations also were
given great importance by the king & he had even officers that
carefully supervised the proper performance of it, by the sinner.
