Tattva Sangraha Vol 2

SR No.: 007609
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kamlashila, Ganganatha Jha
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
Publication Year: 1939
Total Pages: 887
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 84 MB

Page 300

"THE REVEALED WORD."
1025
TEXTS (2174-2175).
* THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO WHOM THE WORD-SOUND IS
APPREHENDED BY THE AUDITORY ORGAN, WHEN IT IS PRODUCED BUT NOT IN ACTUAL CONTACT WITH THAT ORGAN ;-FOR THEM, THE absence of contact BEING EQUALLY PRESENT IN THE CASE OF DISTANT AND NEAR SOUNDS, THE APPREHENSION AND NON-APPREHENSION BY PEOPLE FAR AND NEAR WOULD BE EQUALLY POSSIBLE ; AND THERE COULD BE NO ORDER OF SEQUENCE, NOR THE GREATER AND LESS intensity (or SOUNDS IDARD)."—[Shlokavārtika-ETERNALITY OF WORDS, 119-121].—(2174-2175)
COMMENTARY.
According to the Buddhists, when Sound is apprehended by the Auditory Organ, it has been produced and is not in contact with the organ ; in the compound 'aprāptajāta', 'aprāpta', 'not in contact', qualifies jāla', 'produced '; because according to their doctrines, the Visual and Auditory Organs are operative without contact, and Sound is produced by the conjunction and disjunction of the Primary Elementary Substance (Air).-In accordance with the view of these people, the non-contact with the Auditory Organ would be equally present in the cases of remote, obstructed and approximate Sounds, and their apprehension and non-apprehension by people far and near would be equally possible; that is, the apprehension by the man near the Sound would be exactly like that by the man far off,—there being no difference between the two.
Nor would there be any apprehension of Sound in succession ; in the way that the apprehension by the nearer man comes first and then follows the apprehension by the remoter man.
Nor would there be any such difference in the hearing as that of greater or less intensity,--as is found to be the case in actual experience that the Sound heard by the nearer man is more intense than that heard by the remoter man. So also with the difference in grades of intensity also. (2174-2175)
Says the Opponent :-Even for the Mimūmsaka, according to whom the Sound apprehended by the Auditory Organ is one that is in contact with the organ, and is not-produced, -why should the said incongruity not arise ?
In view of this question, the Mimāmsaka proceeds to draw a distinction (between the two cases) :