Purva-Mimamsa in its Sources c33.4

c33.4

According to the *Bhaṭṭabhāskara* (MS., pp. 92-93) there are three means of ascertaining the ‘Deity’ of a particular Sacrifice.—(1) Nominal Affixes—for instance, the term ‘*Āgnēya*’ is formed of the noun ‘*Agni*’ with the nominal affix ‘*dhak*,’ according to Pāṇini 4.2.24; so that *Agni* becomes indicated as the ‘Deity’ of the *Āgnēya-Sacrifice*; (see Mī. Sū. 10.4.25);—(2) the Dative Ending;—when it is said ‘*Agnayē yajati*’, ‘Sacrifices to Agni’, *Agni* is indicated as the ‘Deity’ of the Sacrifice. This latter is weaker in authority than the former, because the Deity, not being a personal entity, cannot be the ‘recipient of a gift’ in the real sense of the term; this ‘recipientship’ being what is denoted by the Dative, the Dative can apply to the Deity only figuratively, while the exact signification of the nominal affix ‘*dhak*’ is ‘Deityship’, ‘*āgnēya*’ being that ‘of which *Agni* is the Deity,’ and this is applicable to *Agni* directly. ((3) Mantras—Some word or expression in the *Mantras* also serve to indicate the Deity; *e.g.*, the Mantra ‘*Kētum kṛṇvannakētavē, etc.*’ indicates *Ketu* as the Deity.