History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.254

v7.c93.254

Following the Vedas, the Smṛtis also lay down numerous vidhis by means of verbal optative forms or participles ending in 'ya, tavya &c.'. For example, vide Manu IV. 25 'agnihotraṃ ca juhuyāt' and XI. 53 ('caritavyam-ato &c.') as instances of the two ways. From different points of view *vidhi* is classified in various ways. One classification is into four, *Utpattividhi* (originative injunction), *Viniyogavidhi* (applicatory), prayoga *vidhi* (performance), *adhikāra-vidhi* (eligibility). Utpattividhi is one which shows in a general way the nature of the rite, as in 'agnihotraṃ juhoti' (he offers the agnihotra oblation); an applicatory injunction is one which conveys the connexion of a subsidiary matter with the main rite as in 'dadhnā juhoti' (he offers oblation with curds) and this is dealt with in the 3rd chapter of the P. M. S.; a prayogavidhi is an injunction that governs the order of parts in a rite and suggests non-delay or promptness in the performance, though often times it is implied rather than expressly stated. This is considered in the chapters IV and V of the P. M. S. An Adhikāravidhi (injunction of qualification or eligibility) is one that points to the ownership of the fruit of an action as in 'svargakāmo yajeta' (he who desires to secure heaven should perform a yāga).¹⁹⁹⁶ This is the subject of the 6th chapter of P. M. S.