Syadvada Manjari

Author(s): Mallishenacharya, F W Thomas
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

Page 70

XI. The Purvamimamsü doctrine enjoining himsä
As for the unfailingness of the fruit, rain, etc., in the case of the Kariri-sacrifice), etc.. stated as having for cause the favour of the thereby pleased gods, this also is not unequivocal. because in some cases a failure also is seen. Even where there is no failure, there also their favour is not born of eating the oblation presented by you; rather, when that particular deity supreme in awareness is, while abiding in his own place, aware of the service of worship started with reference to him, (85) then with a movement of mind pleased with the performer of it, he effects by the force of wish such and such results. When on the other hand through non-attention he is not aware, or, though aware, is in co-operation with an evil destiny of the worshipper, he does not effect it; since we observe origination of effects only as dependent upon the ministration of co-operants, namely substance, places, times, states of mind (bhava). etc. And that service of worship is easily accomplished by other methods also, beside the cutting up of animals; then what is the use of this butcher's proceeding, the only fruit of which is sin ?
As for inference of satisfaction of Devi (Durga) from success in mastering other kingdoms through the sacrifice of a goat or jungleman 35), in regard to that who says what? Because quite similarly there is an admission respectively of certain minor divinities; only in them also the satisfaction (paritoșa) is merely by seeing and cognizing those entities, and not, on the other hand, by eating them; since it would follow that also the sacrificial substances of Nimb leaves, acid oil, sour gruel, smoke particles, etc., are to be eaten by them. But in final truth it is merely the devotion of the worshippers, seconded by the intervention of such and such co-operants, that generates such and such fruit; since in the case of non-intelligent things, wishing gems, etc., it is seen to be so. And satisfaction (prili) of guests, etc., is to be produced also by cooked food perfected by proper preparation, and the operation (prakalpana) with a great ox, a great goat, etc., for that purpose proclaims simply lack of mental clarity.
The pleasing of ancestors, again, is not unequivocal; since even through the performance of the Srāddha, etc., increase of posterity is in the case of most people not found; and because in the case of some, as in that of donkeys, pigs, goats, etc., even without performance thereof we see it still more. And so the performance of the Sraddha, etc., has for fruit only the deception of innocent people. As for those who have reached another world, they. to be sure, abide experiencing in the states of god, inhabitant of hell, etc., happiness or unhappiness, in accordance with the good and bad deeds they have done. How ever could they be eager to enjoy tic (sacrificial) lump proffered by their children, etc.? And so read the people who belong to your flock: (86)
“If even to dead beings the Srāddha is cause of satisfaction,
Then oil might increase the flame of an extinguished lamp"38). And how could merit acquired by performance of the Srāddha, etc., approach near to them? Since that is done by others 37), is unintelligent and has no feet.
Or, if it is said, "Though the performance of Srāddha, etc., is with regard to them, the merit might belong simply to the giver, son, etc.", that is not the case, since the merit produced thereby is by him (the giver) through his own intention bestowed: and thus the merit of it belongs to neither of the two, and thus it dissolves in the interval, a relative of Trisanku):
*) See notees 5) and 6). 3) See notes 5) and 6).
1) This is clearly in the style of Carväka comments; but in the Sarva-darsana-sangraha, where the first line is given as such, the second line differs.
37) Merit' is not transferible.
38) Trišanku, raised by Visvamitra to heaven and not admitted by the gods, had to remain in the interspace (as a constellation in the southern hemisphere): See Muir's Sanskrit Terts.