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994
TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER XXIV.
SO FORTH, WHICH COULD NOT BE DULY COGNISED.-THUS THEN, BEING NOT AMENABLE TO THE SAID YIVE MEANS OF KNOWLEDGE, THE AUTHOR IN QUESTION BECOMES AMENABLE ONLY TO THE SIXTH, Negation (NON-APPREHENSION) : CONSEQUENTLY, HE IS ONE WHOSE EXISTENCE IS IMPOSSIBLE, AS IT IS PRECLUDED BY NEGATION, WHICH IS THE ONLY MEANS OF COGNITION (APPLICABLE TO HIM).”(2088-2095)
COMMENTARY.
“(a) The Author of the Veda cannot be known by means of Senseperception; because it can never be pointed out that 'Here is the Author of the Veda', simply because he is not seen at the prosent moment. It might be assumed that there was an Author', and as no such person has ever been soon, the assumption can only be that 'he existed at some time'; and this idea would not be reliable,--this is what is meant and has to be added.
"(0) Nor can the Author be known by means of Inference; this is what is said by the words, Adrstapūrva, etc. eto.' ;-the detractors of the Veda premise a relationship, in the shape of cause and effect, between the Veda and the Author who has never been seen before ; and such a premiss can be based only on Ignorance, as there can be no valid means of Cognition indicating any such relationship; no one can ever be able to apprehend a relationship between Smoke and the Fire that has never been seen. Hence, if such an Author is assumed, such an assumption cannot be supported by Inference.-The particle 'api' implies that it is without the support, not of Sense-perception only, but also of Inference.
"(c) The words agamopi, etc. etc. point out that the Author cannot be known by means of Verbal Authority (or Revelation, Scripture). Because, as there is no scripture other than the Veda which is itself without an author, the required scripture cannot be one which is without an author ; nor can it be one that has an author; because such a scripture would itself be unreliable. Because, when the scripture would be the work of an author,-it could be the work of (1) Manu and other writers related to the Veda, or of (2) the Sadhyas and Munis not related to the Veda.-As regards the first alternative,
-it is said-as regards the words of Manu and others, etc. etc.'- Tatkyta'due to the Veda ;-this means that these works are not self-sufficient in their authority.-The objection to the second alternative is next stated
Asambaddhastu, etc. etc.'-' tcho has no connection 'with the Veda; because such persons are not entitled to the study of the Veda. "Any other writeri.e. the work of a person who has no connection with the Veda - Vēdakdrdgamaḥ',-.e. speaking of the Author of the Veda.
(d) Pramitam-vouched for by the six Means of Right Cognition.* Tana vina'-without an Author.- Kiñchit-anything vouched for by the Means of Right Cognition.- Asmin Author.
In the word 'prämänyādi', 'reliability and so forth', so forth' is meant to include Dharma and such notions.
Abhavana' it is only by the sixth Means of Cognition, Negation, that it can be known that a certain thing does not exist; as it is that alone
