History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.254

v7.c91.254

Mr. Kapali Sastry launches (on pp. 22-26) a bitter diatribe against Sāyaṇa but ultimately he has to admit (pp. 27-28) that Sāyaṇa is not merely useful, but indispensable to the students of the Veda. On p. 23 he translates a sūtra from Jaimini's work 'the purpose of the Veda being ritualistic, words which do not have that significance are useless' and remarks that this clearly lays down that the only purpose of the Vedas is that of ritual, those that do not pertain to that (ritualistic action) are worthless. The author doubts whether Mr. Kapali Sastry has carefully read the Pūrvamīmāṁsāsūtras or has at least correctly stated the position; what he quotes is the Pūrvapakṣa view (*prima facie* view). Jaimini's position is contained in the 7th sūtra¹⁶¹⁷ 'as those passages (that do not directly concern themselves with ritualistic actions) form one syntactically connected whole with the passages prescribing *vidhis* they are to be considered as commendatory of the vidhis'. Mr Sastry is not satisfied with saying (on p. 8) 'the sages Madhucchandas and others are *seers of the mantra*, the *Gods were present to the vision of these seers of old*', but he adds 'this seer of the beyond is also the hearer of the truth, therefore that the poet-seers are truth-hearers *kavayaḥ satyaśrutaḥ*, is famous in the Veda' (p. 64). The present writer wonders whether Mr. Sastry carefully read the original passages where the words 'kavayaḥ satyaśrutaḥ' occur in the Veda. The words *kaviḥ* and *kavayaḥ* occur several hundred times in the Ṛgveda, but 'satyaśrutaḥ' occurs only thrice in Ṛg. V. 57. 8, V. 58 8 and VI. 49 6; Ṛg. V. 57. 8 and V. 58. 8 are identical. In Ṛg. V. 57. 8 and 1617a V. 58. 8 it is the wind-gods (Maruts) that are addressed as *kavayaḥ* (wise) and *satyaśrutaḥ* (well-known as conferring true rewards) and *not sages*. VI. 49 6 (first half of which is addressed to Parjanya and Vāta-wind god) runs 'O establishers of the world! (O Maruts!) that are wise and well-known as conferring true rewards, make the world turn towards the man by whose lauds you are praised' (this half seems to be addressed to the band of Maruts). Further comment is superfluous.¹⁶¹⁸