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OTHER FORMS AND MEANS OF KNOWLEDGE.
805
This shows the 'Inconclusive character of the Reason put forward.
It might be argued that—"what is put forward as the basis of this particular instance of Presumption is the absence of the living Devadatta in the House,-not mere absence."
This cannot be right. "Why?"-Because the fact of Devadatta being alive would still be doubtful. So that the Probans would be open to the defect of being 'Doubtful-hence-Inadmissible'.
The ground of uncertainty is stated-'When a man, etc. etc.' ;-as there are no Means of Ascertaining the fact of Chaitra being alive, the ordinary man with ordinary powers of vision would always be uncertain about it. (1641-1643)
The following might be urged—“Even though the man with ordinary powers of vision could not have any means of perceiving the fact of Chaitra being alive, yet Inference and the other means of cognition would be always available for him ".-This is what is urged in the following
TEXT (1644).
“THE CERTAINTY REGARDING HIS BEING ALIVE BEING OBTAINED THROUGH
THE Word OR OTHER MEANS OF COGNITION, CERTAINTY REGARDING HIS ABSENCE IN THE HOUSE BEING OBTAINED THROUGH Negation, DUE VALIDITY WOULD BELONG TO THE PRESUMPTION BASED UPON THE
NEGATION."-(1644)
COMMENTARY.
Through the Word ' i.e. when a word uttered by him is heard, or when an ascetic engaged in austerities behind the wall says that 'Chaitra is alive'.
Through Negation as a Means of Cognition, in the shape of the absence of Perception and the other Means of Cognition, the certainty of Chaitra's absence in the house being obtained, it becomes known that the absence in the house is of the living Chaitra ;-thon due validity would belong to this Presumption as based upon Xegation.-(1644)
The answer to all this is as follows: