Jayarasi Criticism of Verbal Testimony

Author(s): Jaydev M Shukla
Publisher: Z_Aspect_of_Jainology_Part_2_Pundit_Bechardas_Doshi_012016.pdf

Page 11

Jayarāfi's Criticism of Verbal Testimony
Jayarāéi next answers the above questions one by one. We find hundreds of people uttering the so-called corrupt words. Their mouths are not deformed.
A word like gāvi (cow) does express meaning because there are many cognisers of the meaning of the word cow when gāvi is uttered. It also should not be said that, when a hearer hears the word gāvi, he is mentally reminded of the word cow, the so-called correct word. The uneducated and backward persons have never known the word go and therefore at the time of the utterance of the word gāvi they are not reminded of the word go.
There is also no change of meaning when a corrupt word is pronounced. We never experience that the correct meaning 'cowness' is contradicted by the word gavi when the latter is uttered.
Nor does a corrupt word become incapable of bringing about a particular result, because, when the word gāvi is uttered, there is no difficulty in milking a cow or leading it to a pasture or in its giving birth to a calf. The expressiveness of a corrupt word can never be derecognised.
Bharthari has said that the corrupt word, according to some, is expressive only through the inference (of its correct form). Even if its expressiveness were equal to that of the corrupt form, the Šāstra makes a restriction with regard to usage, keeping merit and demerit in view.21
Jayarāśi says this is not correct, because, there is no restriction on the expressiveness of a corrupt word. There are no specific rules about the use of correct or corrupt words. Even well-read scholars are found using corrupt words.
On this point Jayarāśi is in good company, for Patañjali, too, has stated that only at the time of ritual, corrupt words are not pronounced, because it results in demerit and restrictions against the use of such utterances are specifically given by Vedic injunctions. He also says that corrupt as well as correct words express the same meaning. 22
References 1. TPS. (a) for the Buddhists, p. 29, 1. 26; 32, 4; 39, 17, 23; 42, 22; 53. 9. (b) for the Jainas p. 79, 1. 15. 2(a) तस्यैव तावदीदृशं प्रज्ञास्खलित कथं वृत्तमिति सविस्मयानुकम्पं नश्चेतः । तदपरेऽप्यनुवदन्तीति
FAGATARTIT fata 1991 JA: I p. 80, Pramāņavārttika, Svārthānumānavịtti
(Mālvania, Benares). (b) वेदप्रामाण्यं कस्यचित्कर्तवादः स्नाने धर्मेच्छा जातिवादावलेपः । सन्तायारम्भो पापहानाय चैति ध्वस्तप्रज्ञाने पञ्च लिङ्गानि जाड्ये ॥
ibid, p. 118. (c) Tag #71969 57879quiafaa | Vādanyāya, p. 103.