Syadvada Manjari

Author(s): Mallishenacharya, F W Thomas
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

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VI. The Vaiseșika doctrine of a world-cre.tor Gud
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reflection; would be, would be; of those, logical outcasts; of whom, O Lord, Thou art not the teacher, not the giver of teaching,
Just in order to intimate that such prepossessions are of the form of pretences, the hymner has openly, in regard to each of the several qualifications of the person approved by the oppoment, made use of the word 'that' (he'), implying scorn: and it is just in such a way that speakers speak with regard to a single individual who deserves rebuke, as in, - that fool, that villain, that pauper', etc. "Thou", - by the use of the term 'you' in the singular is suggested the unique good-counselling on the part of the supreme Lord, which through supreme compassionateness disregards the distinction of one's own and opposite parties.
Here accordingly the notion is as follows: - Although the Lord pronounces to all the word of teaching, which without distinctior brings benefit to all the mass of beings in the world, nevertheless that (word of teaching) does not turn out to be to the taste of some, whose souls are defiled by accumulated and deeply ingrained evil acts (27): because of unfitness, they being different from those who are not bound again (a-punar-bundhaka)"). And so in the Kadambari 19) Bána also has said: "For into a mind freed from pollution, like the rays of the moon into a crystal jewel, the qualities of teaching enter easily. For an unsuitable person even the spotless words of a Guru, like water, beget a great pain in the ear". And so naturally the Lord is not for them a teacher.
Nor does that suggest incompetence in the world-teacher. For a poison-doctor, who does not revive a fatally bitten man, although he has revived other bitten persons, is not to be blamed; because that goes too far. For that is their own fault. Certainly, the rays of the sun, though they illuminate the whole round of the univers e, are not subject to a supposition of reproach just because they do not enjoy the power of causing light in the congregation of owls. And to that effect says Sri-Siddhasena -
"That even to Thee, with Thy spotless skill in sowing the seeds of the good law, There were, o kinsman of the world, barren grounds Is not surprising; here in the bedarkened tribes of birds
The rays of the sun are as bright as the feet of bees!!)". How, however, do their “mere assurances' have the form of pretences ? (28) We state: Whereas, first of all, it is said by the opponent that earth, etc., have an intelligent maker, because they are products, like a pot, etc., that is unproved, because there is no apprehension of a comprehension. For it is agreed by all the disputants that only in the case of compre. hensions well established by proof will the Middle Term prove the Major Term"12). And here, in creating the worlds he would be either with a body or without a body. And, even if with a body, is he qualified by a visible body, like ourselves, or qualified by an invisible body, like a shost (Piśăca), etc.? On the first alternative, there is contradiction by perception; and, since even in grass, trees, rainbows, clouds, etc., which are begot even without that, we observe the fact that they are product, the Middle Term is equivocal and 'common23), like 'provability'.
On the second alternative, again, is the cause of his having an invisible body a special greatness on his part, or is it a difference of fate from people like us? The first course requires a convincing by ordeal"); because there is no proof to establish it, and because the fault of
" This class of persons (not deeply involved in sin and karma) is defined in Manavijaya's Dharmasamgraha III (M. L.): it is mentioned in Haribhadra's Yoga-bindu, vv. 98, 251, 369.
10) At p. 103, II. 10-1, of Peterson's edition of Bana's so-named work (M. L.). 11) From Siddhasena's Second Thirty-two, v. 13 (M. L.). The feet of bees are notoriously Slack. 12) Source of quotation untraced. 13) Sc. an universal predicate. 14) Because there is no attestation.