Vasudevavijaya of Vasudeva (Study)

by Sajitha. A | 2018 | 50,171 words

This page relates ‘Dharmashastra (the Dharmasutras and Smritis)’ of the study on the Vasudevavijaya of Vasudeva from the 11th century A.D. The Vasudevavijayam is an educational poem belonging to the Shastra-Kavya category of technical Sanskrit literature. The Vasudevavijayam depicts in 657 verses the story of Lord Krishna while also elucidates the grammatical rules of the Ashtadhyayi of Panini (teaching the science of grammar). The subject-content of the poem was taken from the tenth Skandha of the Bhagavatapurana.

Dharmaśāstra (the Dharmasūtras and Smṛtis)

The term Dharmaśāstra is generally applicable to both Dharmasūtras and the metrical codes otherwise known as Smṛtis. The word Smṛti is used in two senses; in the wider sense it includes the wide literature other than the Vedas, but in the restricted sense, the Smṛti and the Dharmaśāstra are synonymous terms. Dharmaśāstra is a much wider term than Dharmasūtras. The Dharmasūtras are only a few while dozens of Dharmaśāstras are available. There are differences of opinion regarding the number of Smṛtis. It varies from twenty to hundred or more according to different authorities. While some of them are available in full, some are available only through quotations. Manusmṛti, Yājñavalkyasmṛti, Nāradasmṛti, Parāśarasmṛti etc. are some important Smṛti works.

Vāsudeva has quoted verses from Smṛtis and the impact of Smṛti literature can be found here and there in Vāsudevavijaya The second verse of Vāsudevavijaya mentions the study of Vedas attributed to the Kings. There says the kings learned the Śruti from Brahmā.[1] This is a fact that the king should acquire knowledge in Trayī i.e. the three Vedas viz. Ṛk, Yajus and Sāma which are comprehensively known as Śruti.

It is advised by Manu as—

traividyebhyastrayīṃ vidyāṃ daṇḍanītiṃ ca śāśvatīm |
ānvīkṣikīṃ cātmavidyāṃ vārtārambhāṃśca lokataḥ ||
[2]

Likewise, there are references to the impact of Dharmaśātra in Vāsudevavijaya In the second canto the author depicts the life of Devakī and Vasudeva. She became pregnant in due course but Vasudeva get worried thinking of his promise to Kaṃsa. In this context, Vasudeva turned his mind to Viṣṇu and worship. Here the author describes the worship made by Vasudeva to the rising sun.[3] In the commentary of the verse Vāsudeva quotes a Smṛti to show the necessity of worshipping the sun always. He says ādityasya sadā pūjām iti smṛtiḥ22 .

In another context Vāsudeva states that the people who perform the sacrifices by offering the holy materials like ghee etc. will not harmed by misfortunes.[4]

To justify this statement Vāsudeva quotes a Smṛti in its commentary. i.e.,

japatāṃ juhvatāṃ cāpi vinipātonavidyate[5] -iti smṛtiḥ |

It is the second half of a verse in the Manusmṛti. It is quoted by the author in order to substantiate his statement.

Thus Vāsudeva has immense knowledge in the Smṛti literature and thus he can make the depictions related to this discipline.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

samastavittāmadhijagmuṣaḥ svato yataḥ prajeśāḥ śrutimadhyagīṣata |
titikṣamāṇāpi samaṃ kṣamāpa taṃ nṛpībhavaddaityabhatā vidhim ||
Prof.Vijayapal Sastri.op.cit.v.1.2

[2]:

Manusmṛti, 7.43

[3]:

vahyaṃ śucāmākalayannatha svaṃ dharmye puropakramate sa mārge |
acāyadapyākramyamāṇamarkamakraṃsta kṛṣṇāpacitau viśiṣya ||
Prof.Vijayapal Sastri.op.cit.v.II.4

[4]:

ajaryamāryaiḥ saha saṅgataṃtatkānyevakarmāṇyavajānatete |
śvaḥśreyasaṃtvāpsyati sarpirāderyejānate tena padaṃ vipattyāḥ |
ibid.v.2.11)

[5]:

maṅgalācārayuktānāṃ nityaṃ ca prayatātmanām |
japatāṃ juhvatāṃ cāpi vinipāto na vidyate || (Manusmṛti
. 4.146)

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