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 331

1056
TATTVASANGRAHA: CHAPTER XXIV.
It might be argued that-the first Word that was heard at the time of the fixing of the Convention, certainly had a meaning,-and all the rest would be similar to this one'.
The answer to that is-How could it, etc. etc.'-How could that first Word-heard previously-continue to exist during all this time when (exhypothesi) it must be destroyed as soon as produced.
It might be asked-Even if the Word is destroyed as soon as it is uttered, -why cannot it have a meaning?
The answer to that is- A word is not, etc. etc. That is, the connection between the Word and its Denotation is recognised only after repeated hearing of it.-(2241-2242)
It might be argued that on the hearing of other words of the same kind, that Word in question would become expressive of the meaning.
The following Text shows that that is not possible :--
TEXT (2243).
"FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE NOT HEARD OTHER WORDS (LIKE IT), THE WORD, AT THE TIME, MUST BE MEANINGLESS (INEXPRESSIVE);
THAT THE SAME WORD WOULD BECOME EXPRESSIVE AS SOON
AS THE MAN HAS HEARD OTHER WORDS, WOULD BE A WONDER INDEED!"-[Shlokavärtika-ETERNALITY OF WORDS, 251-252]-(2243)
COMMENTARY.
For those observers who have not heard other Words of the same kind,the Word heard for the first time is not expressive of any meaning; because 'similarity' that rests on diversity is not there at the time.-That the same Word, for those same observers,-when they have heard other Words of the kind, should become expressive would indeed be something extraordinary! How could the two contradictory actions-of expressing and not-expressingbelong to one and the same (Word) ?
The compound anyashrutinam is to be expounded as "those persons who have had the Shruti', audition, hearing, of 'anya'-other Words of the same kind ".-(2243)
Having thus proved that Words are eternal, on the ground that otherwise they could not be expressive, the Mimämsaka now proceeds to prove