MĪMĀṂSAKA THEORIES OF SENTENTIAL MEANING

0. INTRODUCTION

 For Mīmāṃsakas, the word meaning is universal. Cow: abstraction of common essential attributes form all
cows; black & white, milch & dry, present & past. At the same time it gives way to denote particular also.
 When red horse combined: Red & Horse: two universals. Red can be applied to many, (horse and not-
horse) also horse (red & not-red). But when combined red is particularised here by eliminating all that is
not-horse; horse also is particularised by eliminating all subjects that are not-red.
 Thus by combining two universals there is a synthetic knowledge, this is called śābdha-bodhah. And acc.
Indian logicians this is the beginning of a vākya or sentence.
 When one word presents a single isolated meaning a sentence conveys a meaning that presents a synthesis
(anvaya) of meaning more than one word.i
 Pramana is important; Sabdha Pramana

1. SENTENTIAL MEANING – THE ISSUE

 Thus, the distinguishing characteristic is construction or anvaya of different meanings into a single
meaning. But a Issue: do the words of a sentence possess the double function of presenting their individual
meaning and also the construed meaning of the sentence? Or do they only present their isolated meaning,
while these meanings subsequently combine again to produce a single meaning of sentence?ii
 On this issue the Mīmāṃsakas are divided under the heads of Prābhākara and Kumārila Bhaṭṭa. And they
are known Anvitābhidhānavāda and Abhihitānvayavāda respectively.
 Word meaning: analysed in to parts? Padavādins Or as one unit? Vākyavādins

2. ANVITĀBHIDHĀNAVĀDA

 The Prābhākaras resemble pragmatists or instrumentalists: all words spoken must have a duty. E.g. Cow
bring the cow, tie the cow, milk the cow... to perform, some agent is must. Hence the nominative,
instrumental locative, ... are required.
 Studying word in particular contexts related to verbs, and later universalised meanings. And there is a
general reference to verbs.iii Knowas karyaanvitabhidhana
 Thus words explicitly – universal meanings, and implicitly a general reference to verb, a second function.
 Construction is not a subsequent function; it is already presupposed in the very uttering of words.
 Opposition by Bhaṭṭas: Not right: why? Bring the white cow... the white is not related with verb but with
cow.
 Then they modify that it is not to verb but a reference to some word.
 if then, all words will be synonymous... red horse: red would mean even before the utterance red as
related to horse; and horse would mean horse as related to red. Solution from Prābhākaras: red is as an
adjective having reference to all nouns.iv

2.1 Opposition from Bhaṭṭasv

a) Why Square Circle is uttered. If construction always precedes, even as a jest, cannot be uttered!!! For
nothing unconstrued cannot be uttered.
Again a modification the notion compatibility.
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b) the question of new knowledge: red – any red... thus until the word horse uttered then meaning is not
complete. So the particular construed meaning is known only after the whole sentence is constructed.
 Two types:
1. Saṅsṛṣṭa Vākyārtha e.g. shut the door... merely by ‘door’ it is implied; mutually realted word-meaning as
2. Kriyā Vākyārtha e.g. Rama cooks the rice; word-meanig cauising imperative to do or not to do some
action as Vākyārtha
Arguments Against
1. only after construction, 2. All words would be synonymous, 3.words means two meanings!

3. ABHIHITĀNVAYAVĀDA

 The word in a sentence presents only their primary isolated meanings.

 They eventually combine to produce particular synthesised meaning.
 Sentential meaning not from words themselves but indirectly through the meanings of the words. vi vii
 Objection: if the words do not present the meaning, how the change of some word affects the sentential
meaning and why words are uttered to convey a thought. Solution : words are invariable antecedent
condition and not immediate antecedent condition. Fuel – flame – cooking. Knowledge of word meaning
is important.
 Again, in some cases the word meaning is known, but sentence meaning evades!!! And this would mean
that some other condition : Construction is very important.viii

 Three types:
1 Saṅsarga: eg Vira Purusa association of word meaning as Vākyārtha
2 Nirākāṅkṣa Padārtha Vākyārtha e.g. rama gaccati; word-meanings reposed and retiring expectancy for the
completion ofa sense as Vākyārtha .
3 Prayojana Vākyārtha e.g. gangayam gosah; purport or intention as Vākyārtha

4. AN EVALUATION

 Anvitābhidhānavāda: holds particular meaning as implicitly meant by word and universal as explicitly.ix
 It is against a extreme view that word means abstract isolated unrealtetd universals.
 From the standpointof the speaker, not from side of the hearers, it sounds some truth.x
 Anvitābhidhānavāda holds knowldege from memory, since the meaning is presented by words themsleves,
which are remembered to possess ceratin meanings.
 Jati v/s vyakti: He is man and is mortal.
 Abhihitānvayavāda holds that the knowledge of the meaning of sentence, constructed, out of the meanings
presented by words, is not mere remembering. It is a new knowledge though usually built on the materials
supplied by memory. Also called śābda-bodha or constructive knowledge.
 Black cows give profuse milk. Here a) a memory synthesis is demanded. B) beyond memory put together, a
process is needed. Under the conditions of expectancy, compatibility, proximity.xi
 Mere universals put together may not produce knowledge.xii
 Prābhākaras : implied meaning and Bhaṭṭas : new meaning.
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i
Datta, pp. 295-296.
ii
Datta, p. 297
iii
Datta, p. 297.
iv
Datta, p. 299.
v
Datta, p. 299.
vi
Advaitins hold the second one since they have importance to knowledge than the action.
vii
Datta, p. 300.
viii
Datta, p. 301.
ix
Datta, p. 303.
x
Datta, p. 305.
xi
Datta, p. 306.
xii
Datta, p. 307.