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Mimamsa interpretation of Vedic Injunctions (Vidhi)

by Shreebas Debnath | 2018 | 68,763 words

This page relates ‘Classification of Parisamkhyavidhi� 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).

Chapter 9.1 - Classification of Parisaṃkhyāvidhi

This injunction of exclusion (貹ṃk屹) is of two kinds viz. direct or directly stated or expressed (śܳī) and indirect or metaphorical or implied (ṣaṇiī).

When a sentence contains the particle �eva� which means the idea of the exclusion of things other than the mentioned things, it is said to contain the direct exclusion.

For example,

atra hi eva āvapanti

(Indeed, here only [they] insert [new words]).

Ā貹 means addition or insertion (ṣe貹, samuccaya) of some new words and ܻ屹貹 means omission or deletion (ܻ, Ծṛtپ) of some existing words. Now, the question is where these 屹貹 and ܻ屹貹 are to be followed? Is there any rule that these two techniques should be practised in the case of stanzas occuring in all rites or these are to be followed in the case of only a few?

There is a sentence occuring in connection with the 貹Բ ٱ�

trīṇi ha vai yajñasya udarāṇi yad ⲹٰī ṛhī Գṣṭܲ. atra hi eva āvapanti, ata eva udvapanti

(There are three bellies of a sacrifice. These are ⲹٰī, ṛhī and Գṣṭܲ. Indeed, here only they insert new words, so they delete the existing words).

This sentence tells us that 屹貹 and ܻ屹貹 are to be performed in the 貹Բ rite in which hymns composed in the ⲹٰī, ṛhī and Գṣṭܲ metres are to be recited. The word eva in the sentence expresses the exclusion of rites other than 貹Բ rite in which hymns composed in the ⲹٰī, ṛhī and Գṣṭܲ metres are to be recited. The word eva in the vedic sentence expresses the exclusion of rites other than 貹Բ and of stanzas in metres other than the specified ones from the sphere of 屹ǻ屹貹. Therefore, the above injunction is an example of śܳī 貹ṃk.

But the injunction �貹ñ 貹ñnakhā bhakṣyā�� does not contain the particle �eva�. Here, the exclusion of �貹ñ貹ñnakhabhakṣaṇa� is not directly expressed by �eva�. It is merely implied. So, this sentence becomes an example of indirect exclusion (ṣaṇiī 貹ṃk).

Because of the absence of a word which expresses the idea of exclusion, the indirect injunction of exclusion is vitiated by three defects. These defects are:

  1. śܳٲԾ or the abandonment of what is directly stated or the expressed sense,
  2. śܳٲ첹貹 or the assumption of what has not been directly stated and
  3. ٲ or the contradiction or rejection of what has acrued [accrued?].

As the injunction �貹ñ 貹ñnakā bhakṣyā�� discards its appararent meaning i.e. eating of the flesh of five five-nailed animals and it dissuades us from eating of the flesh of animals other than the specified five-nailed animals, it is vitiated by śܳٲԾ or ٳ󲹳ٲ岵.

Secondly, the injunction gives the meaning of �a貹ñ貹ñnakhabhakṣaṇanivṛtiti, but this sense is not expressed by any word in the above injunction, but it is to be assumed or presumed. Thus, the defect śܳٲ첹貹 or 貹ٳ󲹲ī arises.

Thirdly, this injunction prevents us from eating of the flesh of animals other than the specified five five-nailed animals. A man eats that flesh from his natural addiction. This eating is an obtained matter. But this injunction forbids this �a貹ñ貹ñnakhabhakṣaṇa� also.

It should be noticed that the defects śܳٲԾ and śܳٲ첹貹 belong to word, because they consist in abandoning the direct meaning of words and assuming some other instead of it.

But the defect ٲ has nothing to do with words and their meanings, but it consists in the rejection of a matter which is established by other causes i.e. appetite, natural addiction etc. So this defect is related to meaning.

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