1.4.13
Mīmāṃsā Sūtra / Adhyāya 1 / 1.4.13
वैश्वदेवे विकल्प इति चेत्
vaiśvadeve vikalpa iti cet
The line
If you say that at the Vaiśvadeva (वैश्वदेव) there is an option of deities, that is the objection.
नेपालीमा
यदि वैश्वदेवमा देवताको विकल्प छ भन्छौ भने, त्यो आक्षेप हो।
Where it sits
iti cet opens an objection inside the name-question of this pāda (पाद). vaiśvadeve (वैश्वदेवे) is a new sentence, not the eastern slope of 1.3.22. vikalpaḥ (विकल्पः) is the unwanted option the objector is willing to accept in order to keep a quality-injunction.
Split: vaiśvadeve (वैश्वदेवे) + vikalpaḥ (विकल्पः) + iti (इति) + cet (चेत्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| vaiśvadeve (वैश्वदेवे) | locative singular, masculine | at the Vaiśvadeva (वैश्वदेव) |
| vikalpaḥ (विकल्पः) | nominative singular, masculine | an option |
| iti (इति) | indeclinable | thus |
| cet (चेत्) | indeclinable | if |
The phrases
In the four-monthly rites, at the first joint, there is the Vaiśvadeva (वैश्वदेव). The sentence is that one should sacrifice with the Vaiśvadeva (वैश्वदेव). The doubt is whether the word enjoins a quality or names the rite.
The objector says the doubt is empty. The word enjoins the All-gods for the offerings that begin with Agni. Agni and the others would then be optional against the All-gods. The ordinary meaning of the word would have work to do, so he takes it as a quality-injunction.
Sanskrit in this line
vikalpaḥ (विकल्पः) before iti loses the visarga and is heard as vikalpa. The locative names the rite in the first joint of the four-monthly observance. The line does not yet say which reading wins.
Say it back
State the objection: the All-gods would be optional against Agni and the others at the Vaiśvadeva (वैश्वदेव).