Mimamsasutra 111.2

111.2

na caiṣa nyāyaḥ yat sadṛśāḥ śabdā ekam artham abhiniviśamānāḥ, sarve 'vichinnapāramparyā eveti. pratyayamātradarśanād abhyupagamyate, sādṛśyāt sādhuśabde 'py avagate pratyayo 'vakalpyate. tasmād amīṣām eko 'nādir anye 'pabhraṃśāḥ. hastaḥ, karaḥ, pāṇir ityevamādiṣu tv abhiyuktopadeśād anādir amīṣām arthena saṃbandha iti.

And it is not reasonable that similar words applying to a single meaning should all possess an unbroken tradition. It is assumed merely because cognition is observed; [yet] because of similarity, the cognition is explainable even when the correct word is recollected. Therefore, among these, one is beginningless and the others are corrupt forms. In the case of *hastaḥ*, *karaḥ*, *pāṇiḥ*, and the like, however, their relation to the meaning is beginningless because of the instruction of experts.