Sarkar, Kishori Lal: The Mimansa rules of interpretation as applied to Hindu law (Calcutta, 1909)

THE INTRODUCTORY LECTURE.

65

Section IV. A brief analysis nf the Mimansa
principles of interpretation.
I now proceed to indicate briefly the principles and A brief
rules of interpretation which form the main subject*of the subject,
my lectures.
The subject of interpretation involves two questions:
(7) What is the meaning and, intention of a parti-
cular word, sentence or passage ? >
(2) Whether.it constitutes an obligatory r%le of any
kind, or a quasi-obligatory rule or a non-obUgatory
matter?
Principles and rules of interpretation are meant to
help the solution of f*he above questions in particular .
cases.
Now as regards the 'Hindu Lavd, what* are
the sources which contain these rules and principles of
interpretation ?

The Vedas, in connection with which these rules
and principles have been developed, themselves contain
very little of them.

Occasionally, however, the Vedas indicate the germs
of the Mimansa principles. As for example, in Kanda
I, Prapataka 5, Anuvaka 99 of the Taittiriya Samhita,
occurs a passage of which the following is a free render-
ing:—“Is it or is it not proper to recite the prayer to
Fire (Upasthana Mantra) at the end of morning and
evening Agnihotras? The opponent (Purvapakshin)
says ‘no’, and gives reasons for his view. Men, if they
are daily visited and begged of, become angry. To

Germs of
Mimansa in
the Vedas,