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these three predications, we get the remaining four: asti-nasti (affirmation and negation), asti-avaktavyam (affirmation and inexpressibility), nāsti-avaktavyam (negation and inexpressibility) and asti-nāsti-avaktavyam (affirmation, negation and inexpressibilty).
These seven-fold predications have been mentioned in the Agama literature. In the Bhagavatī sūtra, seven-fold predications are mentioned.1 Kundakundācārya, in the Pañcāstikāyasāra2 has mentioned the seven-fold predications. The predication of avaktavya (inexpre ́sibility) has been made the third predication in the Bhagavāti sūtra and in the Viseṣāvasyakabhāṣya. In the Pañcāstikāyasāra, Kundakundācārya has made it the fourth predication, but in the Pravacanasāra, he has placed it as the third predication. Later philosophers have used both the methods of predications according to their convenience. SYAD-ASTI (FIRST PREDICATION)
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The first predication is syad-asti. It implies that from a particular point of view of nature, a pot exists as a pot-syad asti ghaṭaḥ. The question of the relative approach to the problems from a particular point of view, has been given in this predication. For example, we affirm the existence of the pot, as pot, in the context of its nature, of the materia! out of which it is made like the clay, the place in which it is, the time of its existence and its nature as the pot. These refer to the self-nature of the pot. The affirmation as a predicate does imply the affirmation with reference to its self-nature which is expressed in the four-fold scheme of expression of dravya (matter) out of which it is made, the place of its existence, kala the time of its existence, and the nature of the function of the pot. The predication of affirmation also implies the predication of negation of its opposite. For instance,
1 Bhagavatī sūtra, sataka 12, 3010, p. 19-20.
2 Pancastikāyasāra-gāthā 14
3 Bhagavati sūtra, śataka12, 3010, p. 19-20 & Viṣeṣāvṣyakabhāṣya, gāthā 2-32.
4 Pañcāstikāya 14.
5 Pravacanasara jñeyādhikāra gāthā 115.
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