Questions of King Milinda Part 01

SR No.: 007681
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1890
Total Pages: 2695
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 681

228
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
lavins (You kusås are the children of the tree, do you protect me!') represents as coming from trees in general, without any specification. The corresponding mantra of the Satyayanins on the other hand is, 'You kusås are the children of the Udumbara-tree;' a particularizing statement which must be considered as valid for the kusâs in general.- Another analogous case is that of the metres. In some places no special statement is made about their order of succession; but the text of the Paingins, 'The metres of the Devas come first,' determines the general priority of the metres of the Devas to those of the Asuras?:Similarly the time of the stotra accompanying the performance of the Shodasin-rite which in some texts is left undefined is settled by the text of the Rig-vedins (arkah),
when the Sun has half risen.'—And similarly a particularizing text of the Bhållavins defines what priests have to join in the singing; a point left unsettled in other Srutis -As in these parallel cases, so we have to proceed in the case under discussion also. For if we refused to define a general text by another more particular one, we should be driven to assume optional procedure (vikalpa), and that the latter is if possible to be avoided is a wellknown principle. This is stated in the Parva Mimamsasutras X, 8, 15.
The passages about the shaking (off) can be viewed as giving rise to a different discussion also, and the Satra can accordingly be explained in a different manner. The question can be raised whether the 'shaking' means the getting rid of one's good and evil deeds or something else. — The purvapaksha will in that case have to be established in the following manner. Shaking (dha) here does not mean 'getting rid of, since the root 'dha' according to grammar means shaking in an intransitive sense or trembling; of flags streaming in the wind we say, for
Metres of less than ten syllables belong to the Asuras, those of ten and more to the Devas.
* The general text is, according to the commentators, "The priests join in the singing;' the defining text of the Bhallavins, “The adhvaryu does not join in the singing!
Digitized by
Digized by Google