History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.118

v7.c93.118

The subjects of the twelve chapters of the PMS are stated in the J N. M. V. to be respectively. (1st chapter) *pramāna* (means of knowledge, (2nd) *bheda* (six grounds on which religious rites are distinguished from each other and the distinctions of rites as principal and subsidiary), (3) Śeṣa (the meaning of śeṣa being 'ancillary or what subserves another that is called *śeṣin* or what is helpful to another'), how it is employed and the relative strength of śruti, linga, vākya, prakarana, sthāna and samākhyā; (4) *prayukti* (what is obligatory and what is addressed to the performer's conscience i. e. what is *kratvartha* and what is *puruṣārtha*), (5) Krama (principles of settling the order or sequence depending on śruti &c ), (6) adhikāra (persons entitled to perform yāga), (7) sāmānyātideśa (extension of items in the model yāga to its modifications), (8) Viseṣātidesa (extension of items to individual rites); (9) ūha (adaptation of mantras and saṁskāras); (10) bādha (omitting certain items or details in modifications of model yāgas; (11) *tantra* (one item being useful and enough for several acts or persons); (12) *prasaṅga* (extension of application) In the four pādas of the first adhyāya four matters are respectively dealt with viz. vidhi (hortatory texts), arthavāda (laudatory or explanatory passages including mantras), smṛtis (including customs and usages) and names (of rites, such as *udbhid, citrā*). Śabara himself gives a summary¹⁹³⁴ of the first chapter of PMS as follows; viz. the pramāṇas; principles of the conclusions about vidhi, arthavāda, mantra and smṛtis, examination of guṇavidhi (texts laying down some subsidiary or accessory matter as in 'dadhnā juhoti', where curds are prescribed as offering) and nāmadheya; the determination of doubtful matters by the help of the remainder of a passage or by the *sāmarthya* (the suitability of things for the actions prescribed) It is unnecessary for the purpose of this section to furnish here a summary of the contents of the other chapters of the PMS. For a tolerably full summary of the contents of the twelve chapters of the PMS the reader is referred to the author's paper 'a brief sketch of the Pūrvamīmāṁsā system' in ABORI, vol. VI. pp. 6–12. At the beginning of each chapter Śabara summarizes what he dealt with in the preceding chapter and sets out the principal topics of that chapter.