Mimamsasutra 3.2.21-2

3.2.21-2

āryāḥ pikādiśabdaṃ na kvāpyarthe prayuñjate, mlecchāśca na pramāṇabhūtāḥ | tasmānnigamanirūktavyākaraṇaiḥ pikanemādiśabdānāmarthaḥ kalpanīya iti cet |
maivam | āryaprasiddhivirodhasyādṛṣṭatvenedṛśe viśaya mlecchaprasiddherapyādaraṇīyatvāt | kalpyamānādabyavasthitādarthādvare mleccharūḍhiḥ | yatredṛśyā api rūḍherabhāvastatra nirūktādayaścaritārthāḥ | tasmādanārya prasiddhyā pikaḥ kokilaḥ, nemaśabdo'rdhavācī , tāmarasaśabdaḥ padmavācī, ityevaṃ draṣṭavyam || 20 ||

The Āryas do not use the word 'pika' and the like for any meaning, and the Mlecchas are not authoritative. Therefore, the meaning of words like 'pika' and 'nema' is to be postulated through Vedic glossaries, etymology, and grammar—if this is urged; / It is not so. Since no contradiction with Āryan usage is seen, in such a doubtful matter even Mleccha usage is to be respected. Conventional Mleccha usage is better than an unstable meaning that is merely postulated. Where even such conventional usage is absent, there etymology and the like serve their purpose. Therefore, through non-Āryan usage, 'pika' is a cuckoo, the word 'nema' signifies half, and the word 'tāmarasa' signifies a lotus; thus it should be understood. || 20