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999
TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER XXIV.
TEXT (2103).
“The first end ' OP THE VEDA CONSISTS IN THE IDEA OF ITS BEING THE WORK OF AN AUTHOR, AND THE other end' CONSISTS IN ITS BEING DESTROYED); AND THE NEGATION OF THESE (TWO ENDS) MEANS ETERNALITY '."-(2103)
COMMENTARY.
As a matter of fact, Eternality and Having the two ends are mutually exclusive,-one involving the negation of the other; and between two mutually exclusive ideas, the absence of one is always conconitant with the presence of the other; as has been already pointed out.-(2103)
The other party urges-If the negation of the two ends' constitutes Eternality, then it comes to this that Eternality is not a positive quality of things.
The answer to this (from the Mimūmsaka) is as follows:
TEXTS (2104-2105).
"The eternality OF THE VEDA CONSISTS IN THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT PRODUCED IN THE BEGINNING AND DOES NOT PERISH IN THE END. IT IT BE URGED THAT EVEN SO, THIS eternality IS SOMETHING cognisable ', --THEN THE ANSWER IS THAT] eternality IS WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TWO CHARAOTERS OF BEING NOT PRODUCED' AND 'BBING NOT DESTROYED '; AND
BOTH THESE BEING OF THE NATURE OF NEGATION DO NOT REQUIRE ANY PROOF
FOR THEMSELVUS."—(2104-2105)
COMMENTARY.
What is meant by this is that eternality forms part of the very nature of the Veda, which is an entity.
If it be urged, etc. etc.'-This anticipates the following objection from the Opponent-If it is as stated, then Pternality is an entity and as such it is something that has to be cognised by a Means of Cognition, to be proved.
The answer to this is What is meant, ate. etc.'
* Both these-i.e. the characters of not being produced and not beiny destroyed.
Proof for themselves '-i.e. any means of cognising their own forins. What is meant is that there need be nothing incongruous in Negation being an entity; so that even though Eternality consists in the two characters of
not being produced' and 'not being destroyed', it need not be & nonentity.-(2104-2105)
"Having thus shown that the five Means of Right Cognition are not effective in the matter, it is regarded as proved that there is no Author of the