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THE DOCTRINE OF WORD SOUND.
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the l'eda. This Worel-Sound existing in the forn of Letters and Words con stitutes the Veda; which is the means of comprehending the syllable, oi which it stands as the replica.-This Highest Brahman is perceived only by such persons as have their minds thoroughly imbued with Merit conducive to the fulfilment of Prosperity and the Highest Good.
In support of this view, they set forth the following reason :-" When a set of things is always associated with the form of a certain thing, the former are modifications (evolutes) of that thing; e.g. the Jar, the Saucer and the Cup are evolutes of Clay, being always associated with the form of Clay: and are hence known to be of the essence of Clay-all Things are found to be associated with some form of Sound in the shape of Names; this reason being based upon the very nature of things; as it is a clearly perceptible fact that all things are associated with some form of sound in the shape of Name); for instance, when a cognition of tbe Name-Sound is produced in regard to things, the cognition of these things appears always associated with that Name-Sound. This is what has been thus declared in vakyapadiya) - There is no cognition in the World which is not associated with word-sounds; in fact, all cognition is always interfused with words'. -The knowledge of the nature of things also is always depondent upon the forn of their cognition (which is associated with words). From this it follows that all things are always associated with Name-Sounds; and this being established, it follows as a matter of course that they have their essence in these Sounds; as having their essence in Sound means nothing more than being always associated with Name.Sound.-(128)
The Author proceeds to refute the above doctrine (of Sound being the origin of the World) in the following Texts :
TEXTS (129-131).
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ASSERT THE ABOVE VIEW SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS FOLLOWS WHEN THE BLUE AND OTHER THINGS EVOLVE OUT OF THE SAID SOUND] DOES-OR DOES NOT THE SOUND ABANDON ITS SOUND-FORM AND TAKE UP THE BLUE AND OTHER FORMS - Ir IT IS THE FIRST ALTERNATIVE THAT IT DOES ABANDON ITS OWN FORM) TRAT IS ACCEPTED, THEN TIE SOUND BECOMES DEPRIVED OF ITS IMPERISHABILITY,-INASMUCH AS ITS PREVIOUS TORM HAS BECOME DESTROYED.-IT THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE IS ACCEPTED, THEN, ON THE COGNITION OF THE BLUE AND OTHER THINGS, EVEN THE DEAF SHOULD HAVE THE CLEAR PERCEPTION OF
THE SOUND-FORM-(129-131)
COMMENTARY.
Is the World regarded as ' of the Essence of Sound', Shabdamaya in the sense that sometimes it takes the form of the modification of Sound?
