Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.49

c16.49

We have already seen how popular was this view of the methods of Vedic study in earlier times according to which the mastery of the mere sound of the Vedic words was meritorious acquisition or accomplishment and the Veda committed to memory would be more efficacious than if it is rationally read and understood. This view of the injunction enjoining the study of the Veda thus leaves no room for the study of *Mīmāṁsā* at all, which concerns itself with the meaning of the Vedic texts. There is, however, a third objection taken to the study of *Mīmāṁsā* and that is based on the Smṛiti rule that "having read the Veda, let him bathe". For this rule clearly implies that no long interval must elapse between reading the Veda and the student's return to his home. This rule, however, would be violated if after completing the study of the Veda in either of the senses aforesaid, the student would still have to continue in his preceptor's place for the intervening study of the *Mīmāṁsā*. Thus it is argued that for these three reasons, viz. (*a*) that the study of *Mīmāṁsā* is not enjoined, (*b*) that heaven can be obtained by the simple memorizing of the Vedic text, and (*c*) that the rule for the student's return to home is thus fulfilled, it is to be maintained that the study of the Mīmāṁsā discussions on Dharma is not to be undertaken.