History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c93.327

v7.c93.327

A *vikalpa* may also be *vyavasthita* (restricted or limited to a certain set of circumstances) or avyavasthita (not restricted). The Āp. Dh. S. provides²⁰³⁴ that one should offer *bali* with his hand in the *aupāsana* fire or in the kitchen fire with the first six mantras. Haradatta remarks that 'This is a limited option' viz. in the aupāsana fire bali should be cast every day by those who have kept up that fire and in the ordinary kitchen fire by him whose wife is dead. Manu III. 82 prescribes that one should offer *Śrāddha* everyday with food, water, milk etc. Here there is vyavasthita-vikalpa i. e. first food, then in its absence milk, fruits and roots, and in the absence of these water. When Manu IV. 95 prescribes "Having performed the Upākarma rite according to proper procedure on the Full Moon of Śrāvaṇa or of Bhādrapada a brāhmaṇa should diligently study the Vedas for four months and a half." Medhātithi says that this is a 'vyavasthita-vikalpa' viz. the Sāmavedins should perform upākarma on Bhādrapada Full Moon, while Ṛgvedins and Yajurvedins on Śrāvaṇa Full Moon. Vide the Mit. on Yāj. I. 254 about the *sapiṇḍana* of a mother, where the Mit. introduces order among conflicting texts. When Gaut. prescribes (III. 21) that a sannyāsin should completely shave the head or keep only a top-knot, there is an option depending on the will of the person. Gaut. II. 51-53, Āp. Dh. S. I. 2. 11, Manu III. 1 prescribe *brahmacarya* for Veda study for 48, 36, 24, 12, 3 years. Here there is an option depending on the capacity and wish of the student. It should be noted that the eight faults about accepting an option do not occur in a vyavasthita²⁰³⁵ vikalpa nor do they apply where the option is dependent on the volition of the performer nor where option is given by express texts. Those eight faults apply only to an option indicated by reasoning.