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"THE REVEALED WORD."
1097
these donl, etc. etc. In the case of the Sutras like 'adēngunah, as they derl with things that are perceptible, it is possible that the ideas conveyed may be based upon Convention ;-this however is not possible in the case of the Veda; because Heaven and such things-which are spoken of in the Veda, are beyond the reach of the senses, and hence no Convention could be made (by men) regarding them.-(2339-2340)
Says the Opponent-If that is so, then the Vedia may be meaningless. The answer to this is as follows:--
TEXTS (2341-2342).
"IT CANNOT BE MEANINGLESS; AS ITS MEANING IS CLEARLY
APPREHENDED ” -(2341)
COMMENTARY.
* It'-stands for the Veda.-(2341)
The Opponent has urged (under Text 2338 the fact of the Veds being on aggregate' as a reason for its unreliability. By means of a counter. reason, the Mināmsaka shows that the said reason is Inconclusive':
TEXTS (2341-2342).
"As REGARDS THE ARGUMENT BASED UPON THE FACT OF THE VEDA BEING AN aggregate, THE COUNTER-ARGUMENT SHOULD BE STATED AS FOLLOWS: ALL VEDIO STUDY (BY ANY PERSON) IS ALWAYS
PRECEDED BY PREVIOUS STUDY BY HIS TEACHER, BECAUSE IT IS CALLED VEDIO STUDY '-LIKE THE STUDY CARRIED ON AT THE PRESENT TIME" [Shlokaviirtika-ON SENTENCE,
365-366).—(2341-2342)
COMMENTARY.
Saya the Opponent-The same can be said in regard to the study of the Mahābhārata also : all study of the Mahabharata is always preceded by the previous study by the Teacher, like the study' at the present time; but it will not be right to argue thus; hence the counter-argument put forward is 'inconclusive.
The Mināmsaka's answer to this is as follows:
