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
85 (of 165)
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with the mouth, which is quite opposed to the explicit prohibition
of Manu (IV. 53) and Gautama (1/9/32).
But according to Devala, the fire should be blown with the mouth
only, as the sruti declares it to have been produced from the mouth.
(VS.31.12). But it is not to be blown only with the mouth, some
other material like the dharani (blowing pipe), grass, stick
be
etc. should kept between the fire and the mouth (626).
The last quarter of the verse (626) reminds one of the last
quarter of the mantra in the purusasukta of the VS (31.12d). This may:
suggest the influence of this samhita on the author.
6) BHOJANA :
PLATES OR VESSELS FOR EATING
:
14 The general rule is that a broken veseel or plate is not to be
used for eating. But the present text (646) allows taking food,
even in the broken plate, made up of copper, silver, gold, stone,
conchshell & crystal. A similar rule is ascribed to paithinasi in the
smrticandrika (I.p.222). It is also enjoined by Devala that one should
always eat in a plate made up of gold, silver or copper & not in plate,
made up of a material different from these (652). (If the word
'tadbhinnam' is understood in the sense of a broken vessel, this
rule would go against the above view of Devala of taking food in
a broken plate of gold etc. but the sutra (646) is chronologically
of earlier period of than the present verse (652)). The taking food
