Purva-Mimamsa in its Sources c19.14

c19.14

The practical purpose of the present enquiry lies in the fact that, if all Words denoted Individuals, there could be no differentiation of rules into *General* and *Special*—*i.e.*, the General Law and its exceptions—and thus it would not be possible for the former to be set aside by the latter; and this would give rise to much confusion in the actual interpretation of the Vedic texts bearing upon the rules regarding actions. But *Prabhākara* in his characteristic manner, has turned this question also on to the main subject of the First Discourse—*i.e.*, the reliability of the Veda relating to *Dharma*. The *Pūrvapakṣa* view therefore, according to him would be that—" it being doubtful whether Words denote Universals or Particulars, the exact meaning of the Vedic texts must remain doubtful, and this vitiates the validity and authority of the Vedic texts."