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 775

VEDANTA-SUTRAS.
47. There is the injunction of something else cooperating (towards knowledge) (which is) a third thing (with regard to bâlya and pânditya), (which injunction is given) for the case (of perfect knowledge not yet having arisen) to him who is such (i. e. the Samnyâsin possessing knowledge); as in the case of injunctions and the like.
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'Therefore let a Brahmana after he has done with learning wish to stand by a childlike state; and after he has done with the childlike state and learning (he is, or, may be) a Muni; and after he has done with what constitutes Muniship and non-Muniship (he is, or, may be) a Brâhmana’ (Bri. Up. III, 5). With reference to this passage a doubt arises whether it enjoins the state of a Muni or not.-The purvapakshin maintains that it does not enjoin it, since the injunction is completed with the clause, 'Let him wish to stand by a childlike state.' The following clause 'then a Muni' contains no verbal form of injunctive force and therefore must be viewed as a mere anuvâda (making a remark concerning the state of a Muni which is already established). Should it be asked how this conclusion is reached, we reply that Muniship is established by the clause 'having done with learning' (which forms part of the injunctive portion of the passage), as 'Muni' and 'learned man' both denote knowledge1. It is, moreover, clear also that the last clause, and after he has done with what constitutes Muniship and nonMuniship (he is) a Brahmana,' does not enjoin the condition of a Brahmana, as that state is previously established (independently of that clause); but the words 'then a Brahmana' are a mere glorificatory anuvâda. Now as the words 'then a Muni' show an analogous form of enunciation (to the clause 'then a Brahmana'), they also can embody a glorificatory anuvâda only.
The state of a Muni is already enjoined by the clause 'pândityam nirvidya;' the clause 'atha munih,' therefore, may be viewed as an anuvada (as which it could not be viewed, if there were no previous injunction of mauna).
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