1.2.51
Mīmāṃsā Sūtra / Adhyāya 1 / 1.2.51
लिङ्गोपदेशश् च तदर्थवत्
liṅgopadeśaś ca tadarthavat
The line
And instruction by the indicative mark has that same purpose.
नेपालीमा
र लिङ्गले हुने सिकाइको उद्देश्य पनि त्यही हो।
Where it sits
Tad points to the meaningful role of mantras established since 1.2.40. Liṅga (लिङ्ग) here is the mark by which a formula is known to belong to a deity or an act, not the bare indicative of 1.1.23. The mantra is still the subject.
Split: liṅga-upadeśaḥ (लिङ्ग-उपदेशः) + ca (च) + tad-artha-vat (तद्-अर्थ-वत्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| liṅga-upadeśaḥ (लिङ्ग-उपदेशः) | nominative singular, masculine | instruction by an indicative mark |
| ca (च) | indeclinable | and |
| tad-artha-vat (तद्-अर्थ-वत्) | nominative singular, masculine | possessing that purpose, sharing the purpose of meaningful speech |
The phrases
A sentence says he approaches the āgnīdhra (आग्नीध्र) with the āgneya (आग्नेय) verses. The āgnīdhra (आग्नीध्र) is the fire on the northern altar, tended by the agnīdh (अग्नीध्). Āgneya (आग्नेय) verses are verses for Agni.
That instruction proceeds by the liṅga (लिङ्ग), the mark in the wording, and it proceeds for mantras whose meaning is intended. If the verses are for the purpose of the fire, they are āgneya (आग्नेय) because of that purpose. They are not āgneya (आग्नेय) merely because the sound agni happens to sit nearby. The mark teaches, and it has the same purpose as the meaningful use already defended.
Sanskrit in this line
The suffix vat on tadarthavat means possessing the character of, sharing that purpose. Upadeśa (उपदेश) is instruction, the same word as in 1.1.5. Tadarthavat agrees with upadeśaḥ (उपदेशः).
Say it back
Explain the northern fire in plain words, and say that the verses are chosen because of what they say about Agni.
Next
1.2.52. The ending of a mantra is changed because the meaning is understood.