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 439

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TATTVASANGRAHA: CHAPTER XXIV.
TEXT (2519). EVEN WHEN THE 'ABSENCE OF CONTACT' IS EQUALLY PRESENT IN ALL CASES, THE COGNITION OF ALL THINGS DOES NOT COME ABOUT, BECAUSE THE CAPACITY OF THINGS IS ALWAYS RESTRICTED ; AS IS FOUND IN THE CASE OF THE IRON BEING ATTRACTED
BY THE MAGNET.-(2519)
COMMENTARY.
Though there is 'absence of contact' in all things, yet there is no possibility of the apprehension of the antecedent object, because the capacity of things is always restricted; for instance, the piece of substance called
Magnet' draws to itself the piece of Iron (which is not in contact with it); and yet it does not draw all other things which also are not in contact with it.-(2529)
In the following Teat, the Author anticipates and answers the objection that has been taken by Shankarastāmin against the admissibility of the instance of the Magnet' just cited:
TEXT (2520).
IF IT BE URGED THAT—"THERE IS ATTRACTION BY THE MAGNET ON ACCOUNT OF THE CONTACT (OF THE IRON) WITH THE LIGHT EMANATING FROM THE MAGNET”,-THEN THE ANSWER IS THAT, AS NO SUCH LIGHT IS VISIBLE, HOW IS
IT KNOWN THAT IT EXISTS ?-(2520)
COMMENTARY.
Sharikarasvlimin has argued as follows: "In the case of the Magnet, the attraction of the Iron is due to its being penetrated by the Light-rays emanating from the Magnet; for, if it were not so, then there would be attraction of all Iron-pieces in the world. Even though the Light emanating from the Magnet is not perceived in the manner of the Light emanating from the Lamp, yet it can be inferred from the fact that there is attraction even where the Iron is at some distance, if there is nothing between the Iron and the Magnet".
The answer to this is-As no such Light, etc. etc. The phrase it is not visible' denies the propriety of the Light being existent on the ground of its non-apprehension.-(2520)
As regards the Reductio ad Absurdum put forward by the assertion that "there would be attraction of all the Iron-pieces in the world", - the answer to that is as follows: