Mimamsa interpretation of Vedic Injunctions (Vidhi)
by Shreebas Debnath | 2018 | 68,763 words
This page relates 鈥楥onclusion Regarding Shravanavidhi鈥� 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鈥攖he ideal of human life).
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Chapter 9.3l - Conclusion Regarding 艢rava峁嘺vidhi
It must be mentioned that the author of 鈥�叠丑腻尘补迟墨 鈥�, 痴腻肠补蝉辫补迟颈 惭颈艣谤补 did not accept injunction in 艣谤补谤惫补峁嘺 etc. in the explanation of the 蝉补尘补苍惫补测补蝉奴迟谤补.[1]
But in the explanation of the aphorism 鈥�蝉补丑补办腻谤测补苍迟补谤补-惫颈诲丑颈岣�...鈥�[2] he admitted injunction in 艣谤补惫补峁嘺 etc. by saying:
鈥渁p奴rvatv膩t 惫颈诲丑颈岣� 膩stheya岣�鈥�
(The junction must be sheltered because of its unknownness or unprecedentedness).
The author of the commentary 鈥�痴别诲腻苍迟补办补濒辫补迟补谤耻鈥�, Appaya 顿墨办峁迟补 removed this contradiction saying this that in the former case, 痴腻肠补蝉辫补迟颈 惭颈艣谤补 did not admit 补辫奴谤惫补惫颈诲丑颈 in 艣谤补惫补峁嘺 etc. and in the later, he accepted niyamavidhi in 艣谤补惫补峁嘺 etc. So, there is no contradiction.
Appaya 顿墨办峁迟补 wrote鈥�
鈥�eva峁� ca 鈥�avidheyatvam uktam鈥� iti asya ap奴rvavidhyavi峁yatvam uktam, iha tu niyamavidhivi峁yatvam ucyate iti p奴rv膩paravirodhaparih膩ro dra峁ａ弓avya岣�鈥�.[3]
Actually, the niyamavidhi is accepted in 艣谤补惫补峁嘺 etc. to eradicate and prevent the wrong thinking (补蝉补尘产丑腻惫补苍腻) and opposite thinking (惫颈辫补谤墨迟补产丑腻惫补苍腻) regarding Brahman. Being prompted by this niyamavidhi, a striver engages himself in 艣谤补惫补峁嘺 etc. This is the conclusion of almost all of the 础诲惫补颈迟补惫别诲腻苍迟颈苍蝉.
This long and elaborate discussion helps us indirectly to realize the real nature of 补辫奴谤惫补惫颈诲丑颈, niyamavidhi and 辫补谤颈蝉补峁僰丑测腻惫颈诲丑颈. Their distinction is also clear from this important discussion.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
叠谤补丑尘补蝉奴迟谤补鈥�1.1.4. (鈥榯attu samanvay膩t鈥�)
[2]:
叠谤补丑尘补蝉奴迟谤补鈥�3.4.47.
[3]:
痴别诲腻苍迟补办补濒辫补迟补谤耻 on Bh膩mati on 叠谤补丑尘补蝉奴迟谤补鈥�3.4.47.