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
7 (of 75)
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Thus it is evident that Devala interprets the term in accordan-
ce with the standpoint of Sankhya philosophy & hence includes
the knowledge of 24 principles along with self to be necessary.
While the vedantins do not mention the knowledge of 24 principles
to be so indispensible. The Sankhyas strive to realize the self,
in rational manner, through the gradual realization of the various
principles (i.e. not-self), in the ascending order (arohakrama).
While the vedantins, try to realize the self only, without any
attempt to know the not-self. By the knowledge of one reality.
the Brahman, everything becomes known; nothing remains to be
known. (ekenaiva vijnatena sarvam vijnatam bhavati).
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(B) CONCEPT OF MULIKARTHAS
The ten fundamental principles of Sankhya philosophy are
enumerated in a verse (2236) in upaj膩ti metre. The verse is
very important from the point of view of the Sankhya philosophy.
It can also throw some light upon the date of Devala.
ANTIQUITY OF THE CONCEPT:
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The concept of mulikartha seems to be very ancient one,
because Devala has borrowed it from some ancient works on
Sankhya & Yoga (2210). It is not found in the Sankhyakarika
or the Sankhyasutra. Among the extant Sankhya works, the
Tattvasam膩sa (18) alone refers to this concept, but the small
work does not explain it. The work is of an uncertain date.
23 Prof.Max Muller thinks it to be an earliest work. While most
24 of the scholars (like Keith, Garbe, Sovani etc.) assign it
25 to a later date. Dr.V.V.Sovani believes it to be alder than
賴 卮賲丕乇 賲蹖乇賵丿
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