Indian Philosophy v2.c25.s6.2

v2.c25.s6.2

Acts are enjoined with a view to their fruits. There is a necessary connection between the act and its result. An act performed to-day cannot effect a result at some future date unless it gives rise before passing away to some unseen result. Jaimini assumes the existence of such an unseen force, which he calls apūrva,¹ which may be regarded either as the imperceptible antecedent of the fruit, or as the after-state of the act. Since sacrifices and the like are laid down for the purpose of definite results to follow after a long time, the deferred fruition of the action is not possible unless it be through the medium of apūrva.² Apūrva is the metaphysical link between work and its result.³ The Mīmāmsakas are unwilling to trace the results of actions to God's will, since a uniform cause cannot account for the variety of effects.⁴