45. Pulastya

Volume I: Part I pp. 516–517

Pulastya is established as an important expounder of dharma, a figure whose name is notably mentioned in a verse from Vṛddha Yājñavalkya. His influence is evident through the widespread citations found in the works of later, authoritative legal commentators. For instance, Viśvarūpa, as well as the renowned authors of the Mitākṣarā and Aparārka, extensively quote numerous verses attributed to Pulastya. These particular citations delve into intricate details concerning daily observances, or *āhnika*, and the crucial ancestral rites known as *śrāddha*, underscoring his contribution to practical ritual law. Furthermore, the *Dānanīratnākara* cites a distinct prose passage identified as Pulastya's, suggesting a diverse textual legacy beyond mere versification. Consequently, scholarly analysis places the period of composition for the works ascribed to Pulastya between the fourth and seventh centuries A.D., situating his contributions within a formative era of Dharmaśāstra literature.

— Synopsis by P.V. Kane, from History of Dharmaśāstra

45. Pulastya

Pulastya's name is among the ten primordial sages men- tioned in the Manusmṛti I. 34-35.

Pulastya is one of the expounders of dharma enumerated by Vṛddha-Yājñavalkya. Viśvarūpa quotes a verse from him on śarīraśauca.¹ The Mit. (on Yāj. I. 261) cites a verse from Pulastya that a Brāhmaṇa should principally use ascetic's food (i. e. vegetable food) in śrāddha, that kṣatriyas and vaiśyas should use meat and śūdras madhu.² The Mit. (Yāj. III. 253) quotes two verses of Pulastya who enumerates eleven intoxicating drinks together with surā as the twelfth.³ Aparārka quotes several verses from Pulastya on saṁdhyā, śrāddha, āśauca, duties of yatis, prāyaścitta. Aparārka quotes two verses from Pulastya propounding the view that a combination of jñāna and karma is the correct view.⁴ The first of these verses is ascribed by him to Yoga-Yājñavalkya elsewhere (note 336). The Smṛticandrikā quotes about forty verses from Pulastya on āhnika and śrāddha. In one place it quotes Pulastya on the efficacy of bathing on Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday.⁵ In another place it refers to the japa of Rāma, Paraśurāma, Nṛsimha Trivikrama.

Aparārka (on p. 1136) quotes eight verses from Pulastya that provide various religious rites or actions for dog-bite in the case of brāhmaṇa men and womeṇ

The Dānarātnākara of Cāṇḍeśvara cites a prose text from Pulastya on the gift of deer-skiṇ⁶

The Pulastya-smṛti must have been composed between 4th and 7th century A. D.

स्नातकस्य त्रयोऽग्नि पञ्चपात्रमिहोत्रिणः । सर्वान्नवं गृहस्थेषु शौचकल्पानियोजेय- येत्त् । विश्वरूप on या. I. 17. ↩
मुन्व्यन्नं ब्राह्मणस्योक्तं मांसं क्षत्रियवैश्ययोः । मधुप्रदानं शूद्रस्य सर्वेषां चाविरोधि- यत्त् ॥ ↩
the Smṛtimuktāphalam quotes a passage here, printed 403 → crediting पुलस्त्य
पानसं द्राक्षमधूकं खार्जूरं तालमैक्षवम् । मञ्पूरं सैरमारिष्टं मैरेयं नारिकेलजम् ॥ समानानि विजानीयान्मध्यान्यैकादशेव तु । द्वादशी तु सुरामयं सर्वेषामधर्मं स्मृतम्॥ ↩
ज्ञानकर्मसमायोगात्परं प्राप्नोति पूरुषः । पृथग्भावान् सिध्यन्ति उभे तस्मात्समाश्रेयत् ।। ज्ञानं प्रधानं न तु कर्महीनं कर्म प्रधानं न तु बुद्धिहीनम् । तस्मादुभाभ्यां तु भवेत्प्रसिद्धिर्न ह्येकपक्षो विहगः प्रयाति ।। अपरार्क on या. III, 57, p. 961. These verses occur in the Bihad-Yogi-Yājñ° (chap. 9–29), which probably borrows from Pulastya. ↩
रव्वङ्गरशनेर्वारेः स्नानं कुर्वन्ति ये नराः । व्याधिभिस्ते न पीड्यन्ते मृगैः केसरीणो यथा ।। स्मृतिच०. ↩
the Smṛtimuktāphalam quotes a passage here, printed 297 → crediting पुलस्त्य
अधातः कृष्णाजिनविधिं व्याख्यास्यामः । कातिक्यां पौर्णमास्यां वैशाख्यां च चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे विष्णुव्रतौ कृष्णाजिनं सशूरं सद्वस्मर्ण मनोहरम् । mṣ No. 114 of 1884-86 from the Govt. Msṣ Library at the B. O. R. Institute, Poona, (folio 51a ). ↩

44. Pitāmaha 46. Paithīnasi