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Chapter III
नित्यत्वैकान्तपक्षेऽपि विक्रिया नोपपद्यते। प्रागेव कारकाभावः क्व प्रमाणं क्व तत्फलम् ॥37 ॥ nityatvaikāntapakşe'pi vikriyā nopapadyate, prāgeva kārakābhāvaḥ kva pramāṇam kva tat
phalam.
37. In the view of those who hold absolute permanent existence, there cannot be any modification. For, at the beginning there is want of an instrumental cause. How can there be a cause or its effect?
COMMENTARY This verse discusses the Sārkhya view holding that a Purusa exists without any kind of change. If it be accepted beforehand that the eternal Puruşa is void of change, then there cannot be any modification arising from it. There must be a cause giving rise to an effect. By denying the cause we also deny the effect. So the theory of the Sānkhya that the substances with all their varieties are created by the conjunction of the Purusa with Prakrti is not maintainable. For, one devoid of change, cannot give rise to any modification.
प्रमाणकारकैर्व्यक्तं व्यक्तं चेदिन्द्रियार्थवत्। ते च नित्ये विकार्यं किं साधोस्ते शासनाद्बहिः ॥38 ॥ pramāņakārakairvyaktam vyaktar chedindriyārthavat, te cha nitye vikāryam kim sādhoste śāsanād-bahiḥ.
38. If these be revealed by pramānas and kārakas like substances known by the senses, these are also eternal.