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 10 - Philosophical aspect of the Devalasmriti
33 (of 75)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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(5) PAPADOSAS
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TREATMENT OF THE THREEFOLD VICES :
Devala explains elaborately the twelve mental or psychological,
four bodily & six verbal vices, called papados as. (2284-2371).
The nature, origin, varieties & the way of their elimination are
discussed, while describing the psychological vices like moha
etc. The bodily & verbal vices are also squarely dealt with.
The treatment if this topic, with such a systematic elaboration
is rarely to be found elsewhere.
-87
The Bhagavadgita (16/20) speaks of three vices, desire,
anger & greed as the doors of hell & Arguna is exhorted to shun
88 all of them. The Yogasutra (2/34) merely points out that evil
actions like killing etc. are caused by three vices namely, greed,
anger & delusion. Devala explains twelve kinds of psychological
vices, while the Mahabharata (Santi.163 =Cr.ed. 12/157) contains
description of thirteen kinds of such vices (namely kama,
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1 krodha, soka, moha, vidbitsa, parasutva, mada, lobha, matsarya,
ir峁a, kutsa, asuya & krpa). The manner of their emergence &
destruction is also briefly described. But Devala is not at all
indebted to it in any way. There is not only difference in the
number & enumeration of vices, but also in the exposition.
Devala's exposition is more systematic, vivacious and refined
than that of the Mahabharata.
7 The elucidation of threefold vices is also found in Manu
& Harita-smrtis. Both of them speak of three kinds of vices
&
those of bodily, psychological, verbal nature. Manu (XII/5)
89 enumerates the following three as mental evil actions (1) think-
