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Mimamsa interpretation of Vedic Injunctions (Vidhi)

by Shreebas Debnath | 2018 | 68,763 words

This page relates ‘Means of Interpretation according to Uttaramimamsa� 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 11.1 - Means of Interpretation according to ٳٲīṃs

[Full Title: Corrections and Additions (1): Means of Interpretation according to ٳٲīṃs]

According to the ٳٲīṃs or ձԳٲ philosophy, an aspirant must practise śṇa, manana, Ծ徱Բ and (self-absorbed spiritual meditation during which the meditator loses his or her entity and becomes one with the Supreme Being) until he realises his own true nature and until he gets salvation. Here the word śṇa means to ascertain the purport of all 貹Ծṣa in Brahman by six kinds of proofs.

These proofs are:

  1. upakrama (inception),
  2. ܱ貹ṃh (end),
  3. (repetition),
  4. ū (new) or ūtā (newness),
  5. phala (result),
  6. ٳ󲹱岹 (eulogy) and
  7. upapatti (logic or argument).

(1-2) Upakrama (inception) and Upasaṃhāra (end):

When the subject-matter of a context is mentioned in the very beginning and in the end, then these two techniques are called upakrama and ܱ貹ṃh respectively. For example, the non-dual Brahman (the Supreme Being) is mentioned in the sixth ʰṻ첹 of ԻDzDZ貹Ծ by this sentence�

ekam eva advitīyam� (6/2/1).

At the end of this ṻ첹, Brahman is also mentioned by the sentence:

aitadātmyam ida� sarvam�.

(3) Abhyāsa (repetition):

Repetition of a subject is . For example, in the same sixth ʰṻ첹 of ԻDzDZ貹Ծṣa, the non-dual Brahman is mentioned nine times by the sentence:

tattvam asi�.

(4) Apūrva (new) or Apūrvatā (newness):

When a matter is not proved by any other proof of knowledge than the Vedic knowledge, then it is called ū (new). Brahman is understood only from 貹Ծṣa. So it is ū. The other proofs like perception, inference, analogy etc. can not make Brahman their subject. Because Brahman is without any name and form. On the other hand, the objects of perception, inference etc. are limited by their names and forms. So, Brahman is not realized by laukika (mundane or ordinary) proof. It is realized from the Veda only.

(5) Phala (result):

The purpose is regarded as result. For example, the knowledge of the unity of Brahman and īٳԲ is the purpose of the means like śṇa, manana etc. and the purpose of the knowledge of Brahman is realization of Brahman.

The ԻDzDZ貹Ծṣa declares:

tarati śokam ātmavit� (7/1/ 3).

It means that the knower of self or Brahman surpasses sorrow or grief. From this sentence it is implied that this seventh ʰṻ첹 of this 貹Ծṣa discusses and establishes the theory of Brahman only. So, phala (result) can be used as a method of interpretation of Vedic sentences.

(6) Arthavāda (eulogy):

Arthavāda (eulogy) is praising the subject discussed in a context. For example, Brahman is praised in the sentence

uta tam ādeśam aprāksyo yena śܳٲ� śܳٲ� bhavati, aٲ� ٲ�, ñٲ� ñٲ�
   (Chāndogya 貹Ծṣa�6/1/3).

(My child! Did you ask the subject for instruction by the knowledge of which everything is known, by meditation of which everything is meditated and by attaining of which everything is attained?)

From this eulogy it is understood that the nature of the matter (Brahman) is real and appropriate. Otherwise, how can there be such kind of praising?

(7) Upapatti (logic or argument):

Upapatti is reasoning or an argument shown in a context to establish a subject-matter. For example,

somya ekena mṛtpiṇḍena ṛnⲹ� ñٲ� syāt vācārambhaṇa� vikāro 峾ⲹ� ṛtپ ityeva satyam
   (Chāndogya 貹Ծṣa�6/1/4).

(O handsome boy! By the knowledge of one earthen pot, all earthen materials can be known, because modification of a matter are nothing but names. Only clay or earth is real.)

Here an argument is shown as an analogy to establish the real nature of Brahman. From this argument it is known that the subject of the context is Brahman.

These six proofs for ascertaining the purport of all 貹Ծṣa express only Brahman, sometimes individually and sometimes in a united or combined way. In human sentences, this purport is known as the intended meaning of a sentence. For example, in the context of eating the sentence “saindhavan Բⲹ� means “Bring salt� and it does not mean, “Bring the horse�. So, though the word �saindhava� has two meanings, yet in one context it will convey only one meaning according to the intention of the instructor.

According to the ⾱첹 this purport is the intention of God in the case of Vedic sentence. But the īṃs첹 do not acknowledge the Omniscient God. So, the ձԳپԲ give the definition of purport as follows:

The capability of producing the intended meaning is called purport.

Now the question is: Are intention and purport same or identical? The answer is: No. Because a purport excludes the unintended meaning also. So, the ձԳپԲ say �ٲ徱ٲ-īپ-ᲹԲԱ𳦳󲹲Գܳٲٱ sati tatpratītijananayogyatva� tatparyam�. It means that after excluding the unintended meaning, a purport expresses the intended meaning.

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