450 Mr. CoLEBROOKE on the Philosophy of the Hindus. 



ceding or from a subsequent one, terms wanting to perfect the sense, unless 

 an intervening one be incompatible with that construction.* 



The brdhmana of the vMa is in general a precept ; or it expresses praise 

 or blame, or a doubt, a reason, or a comparison ; or intimates a derivation j 

 or narrates a fact or an occurrence : and a characteristic sign of it is that it 

 very generally contains the particle " so "■ (iti or itiha) ; as a mantra usually 

 does the pronoun of the second person " thee," either expressed or under- 

 stood " (thou) art."t 



In a still more general view the brdhmana is practical, directing religious 

 observances, teaching the pui-pose, time, and manner of performing them, 

 indicating the prayers to be employed, and elucidating their import. The 

 esoteric brdhmana comprises the upanishads, and is theological. 



It becomes a question which the Mimdnsd examines at much length, 

 whether those passages of tlie vcda which are not direct precepts, but are 

 narrative, laudatory, or explanatory, are nevertheless cogent for a point of 

 duty. In this inquiry is involved the further question, whetiier a conscious- 

 ness of the scope of an act is essential to its efficacy for the production of 

 its proper consequence. The Mimdfisd maintains that narrative or indica- 

 tive texts are proof of duty, as concurrent in import with a direct precept. 

 There subsists a mutual relation between them. One enjoins or forbids an 

 act ; the other supplies an inducement for doing it or for refraining from it : 

 "Do so, because such is the fruit." The imperative sentence is nevertheless 

 cogent independently of the affirmative one, and needs not its support. 

 The indicative phrase is cogent, implying injunction by pronouncing benefit. 



It virtually prescribes the act which it recommends.t Inference, however, 

 is not to be strained. It is not equally convincing as actual perception : a 

 forthcoming injunction or direct precept has more force than a mere inference 

 from premises.ll 



A prayer, too, Carries authority, as evidence of a precept bearing the like 

 import. This is a visible or temporal puj-pose of a prayer ; and it is a 

 received maxim, that a perceptible purpose being assignable, prevails before 

 an imperceptible one. But the recital of a particular prayer at a religious 

 rite, rather than a narrative text of like import, is for a spiritual end, since 

 there is no visible purpose of a set form of words. § 



•Mim. 2. 1. 14.— 18. t Sab. &c. on Mim. 1. 4. 1. and 2. 1. 7. 



X Mim. 1. 2. 1-3. II Jb. 1. 2.3. § lb. 1. 2. 4. 



I 



