Zend Avesta Part 03

SR No.: 007673
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: L H Mills
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1887
Total Pages: 2618
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 49 MB

Page 1951

I ADHYAYA, 3 PÂDA, 33.
221
plished thing ', and only subsequently to that, when it comes to be considered what purpose they subserve, they enter on the function of glorifying the injunction. Let us examine, as an illustrative example, the injunctive passage, 'He who is desirous of prosperity is to offer to Väyu a white animal.' All the words contained in this passage are directly connected with the injunction. This is, however, not the case with the words constituting the corresponding arthavada passage, For Vậyu is the swiftest deity; Vâyu he approaches with his own share; he leads him to prosperity.' The single words of this arthavâda are not grammatically connected with the single words of the injunction, but form a subordinate unity of their own, which contains the praise of Vayu, and glorify the injunction, only in so far as they give us to understand that the action enjoined is connected with a distinguished divinity. If the matter conveyed by the subordinate (arthavada) passage can be known by some other means of knowledge, the arthavada acts as a mere anuvada, i. e. a statement referring to something (already known). When its contents are contradicted by other means of knowledge it acts as a so-called gunavada, i. e. a statement of a quality. Where, again, neither of the two mentioned conditions is found, a doubt may arise whether the arthavada is to be taken as a gunavâda on account of the absence of other means of knowledge, or as an arthavada referring to something known (i. e. an anuvada) on account of the ab. sence of contradiction by other means of proof. The latter alternative is, however, to be embraced by reflecting people. - The same reasoning applies to mantras also.
There is a further reason for assuming the personality of the gods. The Vedic injunctions, as enjoining sacrificial offerings to Indra and the other gods, presuppose certain characteristic shapes of the individual divinities, because
As opposed to an action to be accomplished. ? Of this nature is, for instance, the arthavâda, Fire is a remedy for cold.
Of this nature is, for instance, the passage the sacrificial post is the sun' (i.e. possesses the qualities of the sun, luminousness, &c.; a statement contradicted by perception).
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