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CHAPTER XIX.
Section (D). On Negation.
COMMENTARY
In regard to Negation - Abhāva-the Author sets forth the following views
TEXT (1648).
" IN THE CASE OF AN OBJECT WHERE THE FIVE MEANS OF COGNITION DO NOT FUNCTION FOR THE COMPREHENSION OF THE EXISTENCE OF THAT OBJECT -NEGATION IS THE ONLY MEANS OF COGNITION."
KUMĀRILA: Shlokavārtika-NEGATION, 1]-(1648)
COMMENTARY.
According to Mimämsakas, entities are of two kinds-Positive and Negative, -the former being characterised by existence and the latter by non-existence and they hold that every object has two aspects-the existent and the non-existent ; thus it being acknowledged that the Object has these two aspects, the existent and the non-existent in the case of an object-i.e. the non-existent aspect of the object, the five Means of Cognition, ending with Presumption', do not function, for what ? for the comprehension of the existence of that objed,-.e. for apprehending the existent aspect of the object in the case of such cognisable object, in the shape of its non-existent aspect, Negation' is the only Means of Cognition.
This shows only the object cognisable by this Means of Cognition, not the form of the Cognition itself.-(1648)
Question :- What then is the form of this Cognition ? Answer:
TEXT (1649).
* WHAT IS REGARDED TO BE NEGATION, A MEANS OF COGNITION, IS THE NON-FUNCTIONING OF PERCEPTION AND THE OTHER MEANS OF COGNITION; THIS MAY CONSIST EITHER IN THE NON-MODIFICATION OF THE SOUL', OR IN THE COGNITION OF ANOTHER OBJECT."--[Shlokavārtika-NEGATION, 11].-(1649)
COMMENTARY. What is regarded to be Negation, a Means of Cognition is the nonfunctioning of Perception and the other Means of Cognition.