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THE KARMA-MIMĀMSĀ
principal operation, it may nonetheless aid also another principal operation; thus the fore-offerings for the victim to Agni and Soma at the Soma sacrifice serve for the cake offering also, and, if an altar has been made ready for a Soma sacrifice, the sacrificer may perform an Işti with it, if he will. This form is termed Prasanga.
Finally, in Adhyāya XII the topic of options (vikalpa) is disposed of; options are of many kinds, indicated by reasoning, or by direct declaration, or depending on the wish of the agent ; nineteen subdivisions of each type are made, of which eight depend on the option furthering the performance of the rite, and eleven on its bringing about some benefit for the agent. By another principle of division options are classed as limited or fixed (vyavasthita) and unlimited (avyavasthita), each class again being subdivided according as it rests on reasoning or declaration. But options as a rule are open to many objections, though this defect does not apply either to fixed options, or to those which depend on the will of the agent. The subjects to which options may apply are most varied, the use or non-use of certain Mantras, preference for one colour or another, the choice of kinds of grain, mode of action, and so forth,
2 Mimánsābālaprakasa, p. 152; Mimāriisā paribhāṣā, pp. 41-44
