1.2.20
Mīmāṃsā Sūtra / Adhyāya 1 / 1.2.20
लोकवदिति चेत्
lokavad iti cet
The line
If you say it is as in the world.
नेपालीमा
यदि लोकमा जस्तै हो भन्छौ भने।
Where it sits
Lokavat repeats the worldly comparison, now in favor of praise and against the claim in 1.2.19 that a mere statement is useless. The udumbara sentence is still the subject.
Split: loka-vat (लोक-वत्) + iti (इति) + cet (चेत्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| loka-vat (लोक-वत्) | indeclinable | as in the world |
| iti (इति) | indeclinable | thus, closing the quoted objection |
| cet (चेत्) | indeclinable | if |
The phrases
If you say praise is useless, and that praise is not even stated by a word for praise, look at ordinary sentences.
This cow of Devadatta's is to be bought. She gives much milk, she bears female calves, she does not lose her young. Even after 'to be bought,' naming the qualities makes other buyers act. The naming of the qualities is understood. The Veda can work the same way. Cet marks this as a supposition.
Sanskrit in this line
Iti cet marks an objection: if it is said that. Lokavat is indeclinable, like the world.
Say it back
Hold the picture of the cow: qualities stated after a request still move the hearer.
Next
1.2.21. Worldly praise works because the qualities are already known.