DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.39769#0065
THE INTRODUCTORY LECTURE
39
words must be ignored when ^hey are used merely as
proper names1.
You have now got an idea a's regards the relation
between a Vidhi and an Arthavada, an d( that between an
Arthavada and a Namadheya, But you have not yet got
, a definition of Vidhi except so far as appears from, the
definition of Dharma (duty). The definition of duty is
“Chodana Lakshana Artha” (what is to be done by Definition
virtue of a command). From this definition one might °f Vidhi.
think that the shortest definition of a Vidhi was-—
“Chodana Laksfiani Shabda” (an expression*having the
character of a command). But this definition would,hot.
be quite faultless as the word ‘Chodana’ would not imply,
a sanction in connection with the word ‘Shabda’, in the
same way as it does in( connection with*the word ‘Artha,’
in the definition of dufy. Therefore the Mimhnsakas
adopt another definition of Vidhi. It is this: >
> > »
“Aprapta prapako Vidhi.”
“A Vidhi i§ that which puts one in’a position which
ordinarily he is not apt to get into.” The meaning of
this will be clear from the following. Every man wants
to eat when hungry. If there bq a command, “Eat when
you are hungry”, such a command does not indicate
the necessity of a sanction. But if there be a command, ' ’ ,
“Maintain a wife whom one forsakes,” this would urge
the doing of something which the man would not be apt' ,
to do. In other words, it would be aprapta 'pravalca,
indicating the necessity of a sanction, that is,’the neces-7
sity of a compelling power. Thus, by the definition of '
Vidhi as given by the Mim&nsakas viz., aprapta prapaka,
a sanction is necessarily implied. It is to compel one
I i Jaimini I. iv. Adhi io. *
39
words must be ignored when ^hey are used merely as
proper names1.
You have now got an idea a's regards the relation
between a Vidhi and an Arthavada, an d( that between an
Arthavada and a Namadheya, But you have not yet got
, a definition of Vidhi except so far as appears from, the
definition of Dharma (duty). The definition of duty is
“Chodana Lakshana Artha” (what is to be done by Definition
virtue of a command). From this definition one might °f Vidhi.
think that the shortest definition of a Vidhi was-—
“Chodana Laksfiani Shabda” (an expression*having the
character of a command). But this definition would,hot.
be quite faultless as the word ‘Chodana’ would not imply,
a sanction in connection with the word ‘Shabda’, in the
same way as it does in( connection with*the word ‘Artha,’
in the definition of dufy. Therefore the Mimhnsakas
adopt another definition of Vidhi. It is this: >
> > »
“Aprapta prapako Vidhi.”
“A Vidhi i§ that which puts one in’a position which
ordinarily he is not apt to get into.” The meaning of
this will be clear from the following. Every man wants
to eat when hungry. If there bq a command, “Eat when
you are hungry”, such a command does not indicate
the necessity of a sanction. But if there be a command, ' ’ ,
“Maintain a wife whom one forsakes,” this would urge
the doing of something which the man would not be apt' ,
to do. In other words, it would be aprapta 'pravalca,
indicating the necessity of a sanction, that is,’the neces-7
sity of a compelling power. Thus, by the definition of '
Vidhi as given by the Mim&nsakas viz., aprapta prapaka,
a sanction is necessarily implied. It is to compel one
I i Jaimini I. iv. Adhi io. *