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Mimamsa interpretation of Vedic Injunctions (Vidhi)

by Shreebas Debnath | 2018 | 68,763 words

This page relates ‘Vishishtavidhi and Utpattividhi� of the study on the Mimamsa theory of interpretation of Vedic Injunctions (vidhi). The Mimamsakas (such as Jaimini, Shabara, etc.) and the Mimamsa philosophy emphasizes on the Karmakanda (the ritualistic aspect of the Veda). Accordingly to Mimamsa, a careful study of the Veda is necessary in order to properly understand dharma (religious and spiritual achievement—the ideal of human life).

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Chapter 3.2 - Viśiṣṭavidhi and Utpattividhi

There is a special case in which both the ܻśⲹ (Բ = main sacrifice) and the vidheya (subordinate or auxiliary materials) are not mentioned by separate sentences. In such cases these are stated only by a single sentence. These are called śṣṭ. The word śṣṭ (qualified) means �upasarjanaśṣṭ Բ� (the main sacrifice with its subordinate materials).

For example,

somena yajeta

(He should sacrifice by using the juice extracted from the soma creeper.).

Here soma is not enjoyed by any other sentence. The word �yajeta� is not also a repettion because it is not obtained from any other injunction. So, �soma� and �yaga� both are to be enjoined only by the sentence �somena yajeta�. But the optative suffix is one only. How the two matters can be enjoined by one suffix? The answer is that here only one thing is enjoined and the other thing becomes its qualifier. So, there is not the fault of repetition of word. The secondary meaning is accepted in the word �soma�. Actually, �somena yajeta� is a special kind of �utpattividhi�. In a �ܳٱ貹ٳپⲹ� the meaning of root is accusative case and it is related to as the instrumental case. When the expectation of instrumental case of is ceased, then the word soma can not be related to it as the instrumental case. To justify it the meaning of the word �soma� is regarded as �somavat� (that which has soma or a sacrifice in which the soma-juice is used) by ٲٳ󲹱ṣaṇ� (a power of a word in which possessive suffixes like matup, vatup etc. are used to express the secondary meaning of that word). So, the meaning of the injunction �somena yajeta� becomes ‘one should produce heaven (desired end) by a sacrifice having the ‘soma-juice�. Here the �ac� suffix is accepted after the word �soma� according to the Pāṇinian formula �ś徱'� (ṣṭī�5.5.127).

The opponent can argue that the word �soma� can be related to �yajeta� () by the relation of the state of being in the same locus (峾󾱰첹-ṇy) without accepting the �ٱٳ󲹱ṣaṇ�.�

According to him the verbal understanding will be:

somena yāgena ṣṭ�

(One should produce his desired end i.e. heaven by soma and sacrifice).

But the īṃs첹 say that in that case both the soma and sacrifice are prescribed independently. But the optative suffix is one and the same. So, the �īٲ� suffix will primarily prescribe �soma� and then again it will prescribe sacrifice. So, the suffix �īٲ� will have to be repeated. Then the structure of verbal understanding will be �somena ṣṭ� 屹 yāgena ṣṭ� 屹� (One should produce heaven by soma and he should produce heaven by sacrifice). So it is clear that there will be the fallacy of splitting of sentence (ⲹ岹ṣa). It is true that ٱٳ󲹱ṣaṇ� is also a kind of fallacy. But accepting it is better than accepting the ⲹ岹. Because ṣa is a 貹岹ṣa (a fallacy related to a word), but ⲹ岹 is a ⲹṣa (a fallacy related to a sentence). According to the general rule �guṇe tu anyāyyakalpanā� (Impostion of fallacy is generally done on the subordinate matter than the principal thing), 貹岹ṣa is more acceptable than the ⲹṣa. Because ‘a pada� is subordinate to a sentence.

Moreover, the expectation of the expedient (󲹲ṅkṣ�) of is ceased by the same word �yajeta�. So, it will be unjustified to think of that means or expedient from the different word �somena�. Only one thing becomes the means of an another thing (), not two things become the means of it.

So, the relation of the state of being in the same locus (峾󾱰첹-ṇy) can not be accepted here. ṣaṇ� is the only way out.

The opponent again says that in this �śṣṭ� two matters (soma and ) are prescribed. So, why there will not be the fallacy of spliting of sentence? The īṃs첹 answer that the both soma and are not prescribed separately. But the sacrifice is prescribed. But the sacrifice is qualified by soma. Sacrifice is here regarded as noun and soma is its adjective. So, by the relation of śṣyśṣaṇa屹 there is oneness between sacrifice and soma juice. If anyone is asked to bring a blue pot, he does not bring the pot and its blue colour separately. If the pot is brought, its colour is also brought. So also is the case between soma and sacrifice with reference to soma岵.

It can not be argued that soma is prescribed as a material to the sacrifice obtained by the injunction �dzپṣṭdz svargakāmo yajeta� (One desiring heaven should sacrifice by the dzپṣṭdz), because the injunction regarding dzپṣṭdz is an 󾱰 and not an utpattividhi. An utpattividhi expresses the nature of an action. But this quality of expressing the nature of an action can not be found in the dzپṣṭdzs entence. The word �utpatti� here means �󲹲Բ-ū貹� (the nature of means or expedient of any desired end like heaven etc.). This is expressed by a utpattividhi. But an 󾱰 conveys only the relation of an action laid down by a utpattividhi with the result. Here the opponent raises another question: Let the dzپṣṭdzs entence be an utpattividhi and 󾱰 like �ܻ󾱻 yajeta paśukāma�.�[1] (One desiring of cattles should sacrifice by udbhid). The answer of īṃs첹 is that in the given example there is no other way. So, it becomes an example of two kinds of injunctions. The injunction �ܻ󾱻..... etc.� expresses the nature of the action and the ownership of the result. This injunction has no other principal sentence expressing the nature of action. But with reference to the dzپṣṭdz-sentence, �somena yajeta� expresses the nature of work. So, �somena. � becomes the utpattividhi of �dzپṣṭdzԲ....� and the dzپṣṭdzs entence only conveys the relation of result with the sacrificer. Moreover, if the injunction �dzپṣṭdzԲ....� is accepted as a �ubhayavidhi � (having the nature of two kinds of vidhi), then by this very injunction the sacrifice and its result should be informed. Then the fallacy of ⲹ岹 will be more strong and unavoidable. So, it is better and safe to accept ٱٳ󲹱ṣaṇ� in the word �somena� and to regard �somena yajeta� as a śṣṭ.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

ṇḍⲹ󳾲ṇa�19.7.2

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