Tattva Sangraha Vol 2

Author(s): Kamlashila, Ganganatha Jha
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 23

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TATTVASANGRAHA: CHAPTER XIX.
moisture) is present in its perfect condition the Cognition resulting from the eternal Sentence has its cause always present in its perfect condition ; hence this is a Reason based upon the very nature of the thing.
Under the other alternative that the eternal Sentence is incapable (of bringing about cognition), as the said "incapability' would be there always, any cognition resulting from it would never come about at all, just like the sprout whose cause is imperfect.-(1501)
Question: "Why cannot the eternal Sentence convey a meaning (and serve a useful purpose) ?”
Answer:
TEXTS (1502-1503).
JUST AS HATRED, DELUSION, ETC. ARE KNOWN TO BE SOURCES OF ERROR, SO ARE COMPASSION, WISDOM, ETC. KNOWN TO BE SOURCES OF TRUTHFULNESS. - WHERE, THEN, THERE IS NO PERSON AS THE SOURCE, THESE TWO ALSO CANNOT BE THERE. CONSEQUENTLY THE SENTENCE THAT DOES NOT EMANATE FROM A PERSON MUST BE INEX
PRESSIVE (USELESS).-(1502-1503)
COMMENTARY.
A verbal cognition can serve a useful purpose in two ways: either by representing things as they are, or by representing things as they are not ; no third way is possible the use of both these kinds of Cognition have their source in good and bad qualities, as ascertained by positive and negative concomitanoe. For instance, the man who is beset with Love, Hatred and other bad qualities is found to say things that are not true, while one who is endowed with Compassion and other good qualities is found to say what is true the receptacle of both these qualities-good and bad-which are the sources of truth and falsehood, is always a Person ;-hence where there is no Person, there can be no good or bad qualities and when the good and bad qualities are not there, there can be no Truth or Falsehood and as there is no third alternative possible, the statement that does not emanate from a Person can serve no purpose at all; as the cause is not there ; and when the cause is not there, there can be no effect; if it were, it would be causeless; and in that case there could be no restriction of Place, Time, etc. in regard to such effects".
This argument is to be taken as a Reductio ad absurdum ; otherwise, if it were meant to be really true, then it would be contrary to perceptible facts; because such sentences as One desiring Heaven should offer the Agnihotra' are actually found to convey a definite meaning: and what is actually perceived cannot be denied.
Further, the fact that the sentence is eternal is not admitted by both parties; hence the Reason is 'Inadmissible'.