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EXAMINATION OF SĀMĀNYA' THE UNIVERSAL
427
the number Plurality subsisting (a) in Elephants and Horses, or (b) in the Dhava and Khadira trees, fornes the basis of the notions of (a) the Army' and (6) the Forest'; similarly the mixture of several heterogeneous substances forms the basis of the notions of drinks, fermented gruel' and the like. Otherwise (i.e, if the resultant notion must be exactly in keeping with its basis) the notions in question should have been of (a) Many' and (6) Mixture".
Thuis is the argument that is anticipated and answered in the following
TEXTS (771-772).
"IN ALL CASES THE NOTION IS NOT IN EXACT ACOORDANCE WITH ITS
BASIS, -INASMUCH AS THE NOTIONS OF ARMY FOREST AND THE LIKE HAVE NUMBER, ETC. FOR THEIR BASIS";-IF SUCH BE THE VIEW, THEN, WHY SHOULD NOT THE SAID NOTION IN REGARD TO THESE DIVERSE THINGS ALSO BE HELD TO BE BASED UPON THE DIVERSITY OF THE BODY OF CONVENTIONS SET UP BY ONE'S OWN WHIM !—(771-772)
COMMENTARY. • The said notion', i.e. the Comprehensive notion. The diversity'-i.e. Peculiarity of the Conventions.-771-772)
Question :-" What is the peculiarity on the basis whereof this statement is made !" Answer :
TEXTS (773-774).
WHEN THERE IS COGNITION OF DIVERSITY, THEN THERE ARISES THE DESIRE TO SET UP A CONVENTION ;-THEN THE CONVENTION IS SET UP-THEN COMES THE HEARING OF THE NAME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT CONVENTION-THEN THE BODY OR * FORM OF THE CONVENTION :-THEN THE notion (IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT CONVENTION). THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE (BASIS) OF THE SAID NOTIONS IS THUS KNOWN DEFINITELY THROUGH AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE PREMISSES. IN REGARD TO OTHER CAUSES, THERE WOULD BE AN INFINITE
REGRESS.—(773-774)
COMMENTARY. The relation of Cause and Effect is ascertainable only by means of affirmative and negative premisses : and in regard to the comprehensive notion in