Devala-smriti (critical study)
by Mukund Lalji Wadekar | 1982 | 67,394 words
This essay represents an English study of the Devala-smriti—an 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 Devalasmriti based on surviving references, emphasizing Devala’s unique...
4.1. Interpretation of the term Yoga
[Full title: (A) Philosophical aspects; (IV) The yoga philosophy ; (1) Interpretation of the term Yoga].
The another way to obtain nihsreyasa is Yoga. Yoga is defined as fixing or establishing (i.e.concentration) of mind, upon the At that t z shr "
855 intended (internal) entity, after having turned it away from the external objects (2207). The sense-objects are surrounding the senses & the tendency of mind & senses towards them is quite natural & unavoidable. The withdrawing of mind from them & making it introverted requires much training & practice. The practical way, that aims at this objective is Yoga, which also leads one gradually to the same purpose of emancipation. The term 'Yoga' can be derived from the root 'Yuj 'which ing occurs in the follow, shades of meaning in three different conjugations 1) Yuj 2) Yuj 56 (4.A.) Samadhau to concentrate the mind Yujyate (7.U.) Yoge to unite, to put to, to appoint, to give to prepare etc. Yunjati-te 3) Yuj (10. V.) - Samyamane to join etc. Yojayati-te 4) Yuj (10.A.) to censure Yojayate 1 ; Among these, the last one is not useful for the interpretation of the term Yoga. Yoga is thus, a process of concentrating, uniting or joining the mind with the internal entity namely the self. 57 Patanjali (1-2) explains the term in a technical sense. Yoga is cessation of mental modifications. Devala is not indebted to Patanjali for his interpretation of Yoga. The commentator Vyas a 58 (on Yogasutra 1/1) states that Yoga is : spiritual absorption. He, thus, interprets the term from the root Yuj (Samadhau 4.A.) to concentrate.
85G The Yoga, as expounded by Devala is a true Yoga. It is not hathayoga. He speaks of properly turning away of mind from the objects. There is no suppression or forceful restraint of mind, nor does he speak of blindly controlling the senses. If there is blind control of senses, the mind, yet, may wonder among the sense-objects. Hence according Devala, there should be in reality, the turning away of mind from sense-objects (cf.Bhagavadgita, 3/6-7).