Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.47

c16.47

The very first sentence of the Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā is "*Athāto Dharma-jijñāsā*", "Now therefore the desire of knowing Dharma or duty." *Dharma* here refers to prescriptive observances comprising sacrifices in the main as enjoined in the *Brāhmaṇas*. The *Sarva-Darśana Saṁgraha* finds in this first sentence the suggestion of several complicated issues which are pertinent to the present inquiry for their educational interest. They may be presented as follows after Mādhava: The main issue is, whether the study of Dharma as proposed by Jaimini's *Mīmāṁsā* is to be undertaken or not. To settle it, we must answer the possible objections to it. Study of *Mīmāṁsā* is not implied by the command that the Veda is to be read (*Vedodhyetavyaḥ*).