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(Q.) Is there an example for this?
(Ans.) Yes. Suppose there is a platform filled with amla (hogplum) fruits. If one more is added it gets accommodated, yet another is added, that too is accommodated. When this process of adding is continued again and again there will be one last fruit on adding which the platform will be absolutely full. After this, no more fruits can be accommodated there. (In the same way when many said silos are filled completely by adding mustard seeds one by one and there is no place even for a single mustard seed then we arrive at the maximum number.)
Elaboration—In these aphorisms minimum, intermediate and maximum, the three kinds of samkhyat (countable numbers), have been explained.
Jaghanya samkhyat (minimum countable)—It is the numerical number two (2).
Madhyam or Ajaghanya-anutkrisht samkhyat (intermediate numbers)-All the numbers after that two (three, four etc.) up to one less than Utkrisht samkhyat (maximum countable). Suppose 100 is the maximum samkhyat; 2 being the minimum samkhyat all the numbers from 3 to 99 become madhyam samkhyat
Utkrisht samkhyat (maximum countable)-It is possible to express in realistic terms numbers like two, tens, hundreds, thousands, hundred thousands, millions and so on up to Sheersh Prahelika (10273) but the counting does not end there. Therefore beyond these realistically expressed numbers it is possible to express higher numbers by analogies or metaphors. Here this concept of maximum number has been explained with the help of an imaginary analogy.
In scriptures there is a mention of two kinds of conceptsreal and imaginary. A concept that can be transformed into action is called realistic concept and that which cannot be transformed into action but used as an analogy to explain something is called imaginary concept. The concept of silo in this aphorism is an imaginary concept and the only purpose it serves is to explain the term Utkrisht samkhyat. The detailed explanation given by Acharya Mahaprajna in his commentary is based on Maladhariya Vritti, Tiloyanapannati, and other such works. It is a complex mathematical topic therefore it has been included as appendix for those who have mathematical bent. (Appendix 3)
संख्याप्रमाण-प्रकरण
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The Discussion on Samkhya Pramana
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