Definition of Punarvacana in Mimamsa

[Full title: Mimamsa technical terms (17) Punar-vacana (cf. Anuvada)]

In the Purva Mimamsa and Dharmasastra we came across the use of two technical forms Anuvada and Punarvacana. The term Punarvacana is understood by the writers on Purva Mimamsa to give emphasis or stress to a thing which is repeated. Hence Punarvacana is understood as "Purposefull" repetition. As opposed to this, Anuvada however is understood as meaningless repetition and the main purpose of Anuvada is to show the association of the thing which is repeated only in particular context. 1 As regards the use of a term Punarvacana however there seems to be a difference of opinion among the writers of Nyaya-sastra and the Alankara Sastra on one hand the Minamsaka's and writers of Dharmasastra on the other hand. The writers on the Nyaya-sastra holds that in Punarvacana the repetition is meaningless. While the repetition in Anuvada is meaningfull or purposeful. But a close study of the diverse disciplines of Sanskrit study will clearly indicate that the view point of the Minamsakas' is upheld by the writers on different disciplines of Sanskrit leanning. 1. anya sambamdha bodhanartha jnata jnapako 'nuvadah |

701 The term Punar vacana is highly technical term and used by the writters on Grhya and Sruta Sutra literature, Sabara, Kumarila and Patanjali in his Mahabhasya, Upanisada, Varahmihiru and his commentators Utpal in Astrology, the commentators of Sanskrit dramas, the writers on Alankarasastra and writers of Dharma-sastra like Kulluka and Devambhatta. Nilakantha and others, for purpose out only one. Following are the purposes for which Punarvacana is used. not 1) Respect, 2) Emphasis, 3) Injunction, (4) Restriction, 5) Nature of an act, 6) Putting an end to the relation of the former topic of discussion, Vast disparity, 8) Indication of Gender, 9) Observance of a particular rule till completion of the act, 10) Different act, 11) To indicate subsidiary act, 12) Acquisition of special fruit, 13) Laying down restrictive conditions, 14) Showing the absence of restrictive conditions, 15) Bearing in mind a particular object or act mantra, 16) Inclusion of an object 17) Exclusion of a particular thing, 18) Exception to exception, 19) Showing Anityatva, 20) Removing confusion in the mind, 21) Firmness of knowledge, 22) Firmness of prohibition, 23) Special concession, 24) Textual authority for some rules, 25) Additional fault, 26) Glorification of good qualities, 27) Absolute prohibition, 28) Vast expanse of prohibition, 29) End of a chapter or section, 30) Emphasis or stress on the words indicative on and Anuprasa 31) Option. For example of the above purposes read "Motivations of Punarvacana (Repetition)" by Dr. S.G.Moghe, Journal of Bombay Branch of Royal Asiatic Society.

702 In the verse No. 236 of Prayaschitta Adhyaya of Yaj navalkya-smrti, Yajnavalkya has mentioned Vrtalopa as Upapataka. And in the verse-238, he mentions Vrtalopanam as an Upapataka. Vijnaneswara in commentary on that verse, accounts for this restatement by saying that the second Vrtalopa does not refer to the topic of the first one, but to the breach of such vows as we neither commanded nor prohibited. Thus this restatement is purposeful. Another good example of Punarvacana can be cited from Vijnanedwara's commentary on Yajnavalkya-smrti, Prayascitta Adhyayas 238, 247, 232, 256, 28 and 29 of the same book. 1 2 We find some proper examples of Punarvacana from commentary of Kulluka-Bhatta on Manusmrti. Nilakantha in his Niti Mayukha, p. 60 quotes Manusmrti VII-61 to 64 and introduces the term Punar vacana to interpret this text. He also uses the term Punarvacena to interprete the Manusmrti IV-114 in his Sanskara Mayukha, P. 63. These are in all six places of Manusmrti that are not handeled by Medhatithi from the point of view of Punar vacana. 1. pasyediti purvoktasyanuvado dharmavisesa vidhanarthah | yajnavalkya smrti 1.1 P-125 2. atra snusabhaginyoh purvaslokena gurutatva samikrtayoh punargrahanam prayascita vikalpartham | Page No. 413 puna 'vratikopa ' grahanam sista pratisidhdesvapi sri haricarana kamala preksanat prak tambuladikam na bhaksayamityevamrupesu prapyartham matu snataka vrata pradatyartham | 'snataka vrataloyeca prayascittamabhojanam ' iti manuna laghuprayascittasya pratipaditatvat | Papeals 415. juhuyadi anenagnau sidhde bhuna hanimupasamadhayeti punaranigrahanam laukikagni pradhyartham | Page alo 425 tasmadvahmana rajanyo vaisyasva na suram pibet ' iti nisedhavidhau listhavivaksitatvena varnatrayabharyanamapi pratisedhe sidhde punarvacana dvijati bharyayah sukraya api surapratisedha prapyartham | Papene 436