Definition of Vidhi in Mimamsa

[Full title: Mimamsa technical terms (23) Vidhi]

1. The technical term Vidhi is defined in the Arthasangraha of Laugaksi Bhaskara as "Ajnya tarthajnjapako Vedabhago Vidhihi'. This means that Vidhi is that portion of the Veda which makes known a matter not known by any other means of knowledge i.e. the Vedic injunction is "Agnihotram Juhuyat Svarga Kamah". This injunction lays down the Agnihotra sacrifice which is not enjoined by any other means of proof and which possesses heaven as its fruit. 2. Vidhi is said to have been laid down by a verbal form of by a potential passive participle in "Ya" or "Tavya". 3. Vidhi is ordinarily couched in the optative form and a verb in the present tense, cannot ordinarily be taken as laying down a Vidhi. 4. Only Vidhis have absolute authority. 5. Some times a Vidhi may be inferred even from a verb in the present tense. 6. The central element in the Vidhi is the verb or verbal form expressed as one shall do. It shall be done and it ought to be done. 1 7. The employment of the words like "hi, tu, vai" is not generally allowed in the Vidhi Vakya. 8. In the text about Ratrisatra, though it is in the present tense, yet it is construed as a Vidhi. na ca vidhiyamane vaisabdo bhavati prasiddhavacano hyesa 1. drstah |

944 9. The exact idea of a Vidhi Vakya is pointed out by the five words which occur in the Vedic sentences. 1 10. Gf of Sabara on Jaimini's Purva Mimamsa Sutra. Vidhi is further divided into 4 categories :- 2 2 1) Injunction of origination (Utpatti Vidhi). 11) Injunetion of application : (Viniyoga Vidhi) • iii) Injunction of claim or competance: (Adhikare Vidhi). (iv) Injunction of performance : (Prayoga Vidhi). 5 4 11. Another three fold classification of the Vidhi is as follows:i) Niyama Vidhi 6 7 ii) Apurva Vidhi 8 iii) Parisamkhya Vidhi 1. evam hi padavakyarthanyayavidah slokamamananti | kuryat kriyeta kartavyam bhavet syat iti pancamam | etat syat sarvarvadesu niyatam vidhilaksanam | Page: 1247 2. karmasvarupa matra bodhako vidhih | utpatti vidhih | agnihotram juhoti | 3. amgapradhana sambandhabodhako vidhih viniyoga vidhih | dadhna juhoti | 4. phala svamyabodhako vidhi adhikaravidhih | 5. prayoga pramsu bhava bodhako vidhih prayoga vidhih| sa ca sameta svargakamah | 6 pakse apraptasya pramako vidhih niyama vidhih | vrihina proksati | 7. yasya yadarthatvam pramanantarena praptam tasya tadarthatvena yo vidhih so'purvavidhih | 8. panca pancanakham bhaksyah | tamtra ca anyatra ca praptau parisakhyeti giyate |

12. Another two-fold classification of the Vidhi is as follows:- 9 1) Kratvartha Vidhi (Vidhi for the benefit of Yoga) 11) Purusartha Vidhi (Vidhi for the benefit of the man) 10 9. kutu saphalya prayojanaya kriyamanam karma kratavartha iti ucyate | 10. yamtra tu prapti ragatah evam, pratividhyamanasya anarthahetutvam tatra purusarthah sambhavati | (Page No.1225-1226 of History of Dharma-sastra, Vol. V). 945