Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti

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is an old work, that had become famous even during the 6th century
A.D. 6. The present verse, to be so much popular even during the
period of the Pancatantra, must be of a date, quite earlier than it.
This fact reflects upon the antiquity of the present verse & the
work of Devala, from which probably the pancatantra might have
borrowed this verse.
3) SOURCES OF DHARMA :
The sources of Dharma are the vedas, vedangas, smrtis & Itihāsas
according to Devala (1 to 6). The vedas are the most ancient
authorities on Dharma. The vedangas are also mentioned, as they are
helpful in understanding the veda. Gautama (11/2/19) & Yajnavalkya
(1.3)7 explicitly mention vedangas like Devala, among the sources
of Dharma. The Itihasas, mentioned among the sources of Dharma
by Devala are not generally enumerated likewise in the other
smrtis. The terms veda & vedangas are properly defined, but the
term 'Itihasaḥ' is not explained likewise as referring to some
distinct works. It is interpreted as referring to "those works,
composed by sages, narrating ancient incidents, leading to the
right knowledge".(6)
a
The term Itihasa is a very ancient one, occurring even in the
Atharvaveda, Satpatha Brāhmaṇa, Taittiriya Aranyaka, Chandogya &
Brhadaranyaka upanis ads etc. But the term, referred to in these
ancient works has reference to ancient narratives, occurring in
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the Brahmanas. Kautilya's explanation of the term³, indicates
his knowledge of the 'definite work', "more or less very like the
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extant Mahabharata" 10 The Asvalayana G.S. (III.4.4) distinctly.
kalpana's