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EXAMINATION OF THE IMPORT OF WORDS.
569
In view of these '-.e. things created by imagination.
Tat stands for lasmāt', 'therefore, thus'. Or it may mean of that'-.e of the Reason, the 'falsity remains unshaken.-(1094)
It has been argued under Text 906, by Kumarila) that-"one for wlion there is nothing positive denoted by words,- for him there can be no negation either".
The answer to this is as follows:
TEXTS (1095.1096).
FOR THE MAN BY WHOM THE DENOTATION OF WORDS IS NOT ADMITTED
TO BE ANYTHING POSITIVE, THE MIND (COGNITION) REFLECTING THE THING IS WHAT IS BROUGAT ABOUT BY THE WORD, AND THIS COGNITION ULTIMATELY BRINGS ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE THING. WHEN WORDS EXPRESS THEIR MEANINGS, THERE IS, BY IMPLICATION, THE EXCLUSION OF OTHER THINGS; AND THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF THIS THERE IS negation ALSO, AS PRECEDED BY THE APPREHENSION OF THE positive THING.
(1095-1096).
COMMENTARY.
It is not that we absolutely do not admit the fact of words denoting positive things by virtue of which you have urged the undesirable con. tingency against us. As a matter of fact, it is admitted by us that the word produces the mental condition' (Cognition) which ultimately provides the idea of the Thing; so that in our opinion also what is denoted by the word is a positive entity which is illusory in character. In reality however, there is nothing that is denoted by words; hence it is only the real positive character of things that is denied by us ;—so that the illusory positive character of the thing denoted by words being accepted by us, whenever there is anything positive denoted by the word, the negation of other things becomes apprehended by implication; and hence it is quite possible to have this negation as preceded by the apprehension of the positive thing.-(1095-1096)
The following might be urged by the other party "If it is admitted that the Word does denote positive entities, then, how is it that in the
