Reality English Translation of Sarvarthasiddhi

Author(s): S A Jain
Publisher: Jwalamalini Trust Chennai

Page 57

SCRIPTURAL KNOWLEDGE IS ETERNAL
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end. Moreover it cannot be considered authoritative, as it is created by man. But such a view is untenable. From the general point of view of substance etc., it is considered beginningless and endless. It has not been invented by someone at some time in some manner with great effort. But, from the particular point of view, it has a beginning and an end. So it is said to be preceded by sensory knowledge. For instance the sprout presupposes the seed, but from the point of view of the series it is beginningless and endless. Further, authority does not consist in its not being created by man. For in that case even the teachings on theft etc., whose author's naine is forgotten, would become authoritative. What is wrong if direct knowledge which is not eternal is considered valid ?
It is contended that it is not proper to say that scriptural knowledge is preceded by sensory knowledge, as both kinds of knowledge arise simultaneously on the manifestation of the first right belief. But it is not true. For the rightness of knowledge is the result of right faith. But the realization of the two is in succession. Hence, it is established that it is preceded by sensory knowledge.?
Again, it is contended that the definition of scriptural knowledge is vitiated by the fallacy of non-pervasiveness. For scriptural knowledge is preceded by scriptural knowledge also. It is as follows. Some person perceives through his ears sound molecules consisting of sentences, composed of words, which in turn are composed of letters. This is sensory knowledge. Next he derives the first śruta knowledge of the meaning of the word 'jar'. Then, if he gets hints of the function of the jar,
i At the starting-point of the first right belief, the wrong sensory knowledge and the wrong scriptural knowledge are turned into right knowledge. Thus the rightness of these two kinds of knowledge is derived from right belief, But in origin scriptural knowledge is preceded by sensory knowledge. Though the flame of a candle and the light emitted by the flame are produced at the same time, the flame is spoken of as the cause of the light. Similarly with regard to right belief and right knowledge. It is right faith that imparts this characteristic of rightness to sensory knowledge and scriptural knowledge, which prior to the birth of right faith have originated in succession. Even though right faith and right knowledge originate simultaneously, still right faith is the cause of the rightness of knowledge as in the case of the flame and the light.