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I. 36-40 ]
CHAPTER I
[ 41
(39) If we desire to say that one part of a certain thing does not exist and another part does and does not exist at the same time, the thing is said to be not existing and indescribable.
(40) If one part of a thing does and does not exist and another does and does not exist at the same time—the thing is said to be existing, not existing and indescribable.?
A true statement of a thing either affirmatively or negatively from the standpoint of one of its qualities is called a Bhanga or mode or way. Such modes or ways are originally only two or at the most three. But by the permu. tation and combination of these ways, we get seven ways and consequently seven kinds of statements. This sevenfold mode of sentences is termed Sapta-bhangi.
For instance :-(1) The soul is eternal (2) is not eternal (3) is indescribable (4) is eternal as well as not eternal (5) is eternal as well as indescribable (6) is not eternal as well as indescribable (7) is eternal, not eternal as well as indescribable.
The soul may seem to undergo different modifications but in reality it is neither created anew, nor is ever wholly destroyed ; therefore, from the standpoint of substance it is eternal.
1 Compare Visesavasyaka-bhasya : Gathā 2232 and Sanmatitika : P, 441.
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