Studies On Bhartrhari

Author(s): Johannes Bronkhorst
Publisher: Johannes Bronkhorst

Page 7

Bhartṛhari and Mîmāmsā
107
1.3. Another instance where Bhartṛhari gives evidence of drawing upon a tradition quite independent of the Mimamsakas occurs on P. 1.1.5 and consists of an illustration with the help of the Sunaskarṇastoma sacrifice (AL 118.3; Sw 137.26-138.1; Ms 39a7-8):
Sunaskarnastomayajñavad etat syat, yatha pradhanasya maranenarthina tetin pravartayanti
"This is like the Sunaskarṇastoma sacrifice: desirous of the main thing by means of death, they cause the sacrifice to proceed."
The Sunaskarna Agniṣṭoma sacrifice is discussed in Sabara's Bhāṣya om PMS 10.2.57-61. This sacrifice is enjoined by the injunction "Desiring one's own death one should perform this sacrifice, if he wishes that he should reach the Heavenly Region without any disease" (maraṇakāmo hy etena yajeta, yaḥ kamayetanamayaḥ svargam lokam iyam iti; tr. Ganganatha Jha, p. 1721). The question raised under PMS 10.2.57-58 is whether or not the sacrifice should be continued after the sacrificer has taken his life by throwing himself into the fire. The answer is that the sacrifice must be completed. A number of reasons is given for this, none of them even resembling Bhartṛhari's. This is true to the extent that Parthasarathi Miśra in his Sastradipika on PMS 10.2.57-58 (adhikarana 23, vol. II, p. 334f.) quotes Bhartṛhari as authority when accepting that point of view (cf. Swaminathan, 1961: 315-16):
svarga evātra maraṇenarthinaḥ phalam na maranam / maranakama ity angikṛtamarana ity arthaḥ / tena yo hy evam jñātvā svargam präpnavānīti kamayate, tasyayam kratuḥ / tatha ca haribhir uktam 'pradhanasya marayendrthina ifyan pravartayanti'iti /
mean
"Heaven is here the fruit he wishes [to attain] by means of death, not death [itself]. The words 'desiring [one's own] death' (maranakama) sacrifice is 'accepting [one's own] death'. Therefore, this [meant] for him who, knowing this, wishes to attain to heaven. This has been expressed by [Bhartr]hari with the words 'desirous of the main thing (i.e. heaven) by means of death they cause the sacrifice to proceed."
4. The Ms reading has been emended with the help of the quotation by Parthasarathi Miśra; see below.