Anekantavada

Author(s): Harisatya Bhattacharya
Publisher: Atmanand Jain Sabha

Page 89

52
the relationship between the two is circumscribed with as much precision and exactitude as possible. For the proposition, the pitcher exists ', taken as it is, may refer to an absolute and inseparable connection between "the pitcher" and "existence" under all circumstances. But to understand that proposition in that way is not justifiable. Suppose the pitcher is made of earth and that being the case, it is only correct to hold that the pitcher exists in respect of its own constituent substance viz., earth; that in other words, it exists as an earthen pitcher only. Suppose again, the judgmont, 'the pitcher exists', is inade on a day in the summer season; in that case, the existence of the pitcher can be validly affirmed with respect to that time only; in other words, in that case, precision and exactitude would require us not to go beyond saying that the pitcher is existent only on that said day in the summer season. Thirdly, let us assume that the pitober, of which existence is affirmed is found at Pataliputra; in that case, it would be correct only to say that the pitober exists as a pot in Pataliputra alone. Lastly, let us assume that the pitcher in question is of red colour ; it would then be necessary on our part to be precise by saying that the pitcher exists only as a thing of red colour.