1.1. Constituents of Dharma

[Full title: (A) The distinctive religious features of the Devala-Smriti; (I) Dharma; (1) The Constituents of Dharma].

According to Devala, the ten virtues, namely, (1) sauca (purity), (2) dana (gift), (3) tapas (austerity), (4) sraddha - (faith), (5) guruseva (serving the venerable), (6) ksama (endurance); (7) daya (compassion), (8) vijnana (knowledge), (9) vinaya (decorum), &(10) satya (truth) are the constituents of Dharma (7). Manu (6.92) ¹ also mentions ten virtues that characterize Luca, ksama vijnana or vidya Dharma. Only the four them (namely, sauca, (acc.to Manu) & Satya) are common between the two, while other virtues, mentioned by them are different. The other smrtikaras, like 2 Yajnavalkya (1.122), Brhaspati (Sam.489), Visnu (II/16-17), etc. also enumerate some virtues as samanyadharmas dharmas, common to all). Gautama (1/8/23-24) & Atri³ (33-41) also refer to eight virtues. The six virtues (namely (1) sauca, (2) dana, (6) ksama (7) daya, (8) vijnana (8) vijnana , & (10) & (10) satya), mentioned by Devala are also found in the Yajnavalkya smrti & the five except vijnana in the Visnu smrti. While only three virtues (namely, sauca, ksama & daya ) are common with Brhaspati, Gautama and Atri (Atri mentions dana & omits ksama). The other virtues, mentioned by these smrtis are different. The two virtues, (tapas & sraddha) mentioned by Devala, are not found in the enumeration of virtues of the above Smrtikaras. 1 While the mention of guruseva (serving the venerable), is found

072 only in the visnu smrti & the present text. Though this topic is treated by Manu etc. in their smrtis, they do not mention it, like Devala & Visnu, while enumerating the virtues, in the above verses. 'Vinaya' alluded to by Devala, is generally referred to by words 'dama' &'indriyanigraha' in the other smrtis. Though the virtues are mentioned by most of the smrtis, Devala alone describes them as Dharmas amuccayah (the contituents of Dharma elsewhere they are generally mentioned as 'samanyadharma' (the Dharmas that are common to all). The comparative study, treated previously indicates that Devala's enumeration of virtues is somewhat near to that of Manu, Yajnavalkya & Visnu. It is also noteworthy that Devala enumerates & also explains most of the virtues (8 to 49). Devala's views about dana & sauca, can be understood from his treatment of these topics, in the dana & dravyasuddhi chapters respectively. The explanation of the word 'satya' only is not available.