History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v1.c6.s52.1

v1.c6.s52.1

The Smṛticandrikā tells us that Devasvāmin composed like Śrīkara and Śambhu a work in the nature of a digest of *smṛtis* (*smṛti-samuccaya*). Vide note 563 above. The commentary of Nārāyaṇa of the Naidhruva gotra, son of Divākara, on the Āśvalāyana-gṛhyasūtra⁶⁰² says that it relies upon the bhāṣya of Devasvāmin on the same work. Gārgya Nārāyaṇa, son of Narasiṁha, in his commentary on the Āśvalāyana-śrautasūtra, tells us that he follows the bhāṣya of Devasvāmin thereon. It is hardly likely that two writers of the same name flourished about the same time. Hence it may be assumed that Devasvāmin wrote bhāṣyas on the Āśvalāyana Śrauta and Gṛhya sūtras and a digest of smṛtis, where he discussed all topics of dharma, such as ācāra, vyavahāra, āśauca &c. The commentrry of Bhaṭṭoji⁶⁰³ on the Caturviṁśatimata refers to the view of Devasvāmin on śraddha and aśauca. Hemādri⁶⁰⁴ (vol. III, part 2, p. 324) and Mādhava (on Parāśara, vol. I, part 2, p. 328) also quote Devasvāmin. The Smṛticandrikā quotes the views of Devasvāmin on vyavahāra and āśauca several times. For example, Devasvāmin⁶⁰⁵ explained the word Yautaka differently from the Nighaṇṭu (which explained it as the wealth that was given to a woman when she was seated on the same seat with her husband at the time of marriage). Devasvāmin explained that the words of the Saṁgraha⁶⁰⁶ that, when a son was born to one of several full brothers, he stood as a son to all and that the same rule applied to several co-wives when one of them had a son, meant that in both cases another son should not be adopted. Devasvāmin held the view (like Bhojadeva) that the word ‘duhitṛ’ in Yājñavalkya's verses on succession meant *putrikā*.⁶⁰⁷ Devasvāmin explained Manu⁶⁰⁸ 9. 141 as saying that the adopted son (in the particular case mentioned by Manu) took all the wealth and the *gotra* of his adoptive father. Vide Smṛticandrikā (Mysore ed.) on āśauca p. 22. The Vaijayantī of Nandapaṇḍita (on Viṣṇu 22. 32) quotes the view of Devasvāmin that on the death of unmarried daughters mourning was to be observed for ten days.⁶⁰⁹ The Smṛticandrikā quotes a verse from Devasvāmin⁶¹⁰ on śrāddha also.