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“THE REVEALED WORD.”
1039
applicable at all.-Why ?-Because on account of the difference in the capacities of men ; this difference in the capacity is due to the fact that in the case of some men the air embellishing the Organ is in close proximity to them, while in others, it is not so.-(2204)
Says the Opponent-The Sound being one and all-pervading, it must be equally related to all men; how then could there be apprehension (by some) and non-apprehension (by others) of it?
Answer from the Mimūmsaka
TEXTS (2205-2206).
"JUST AS (UNDER THE OPPONENT'S VIEW) THE WORD-SOUND, THOUGH
PRODUCED AND APPEARING EQUALLY WITH REGARD TO ALL MEN, IS NOT HEARD BY ALL, ON ACCOUNT OF THE DIVERSITIES OF DIRECTION, PLACE AND SO FORTH,-IN THE SAME MANNER, (UNDER OUR VIEW ALSO) THE SOUND IS HEARD ONLY BY ONE WHOSE AUDITORY ORGAN IS EMBELLISHED BY THE ARTICULATIONS MADE NEAR HIM, AND NOT BY PERSONS AT A DISTANCE."-Shlokavārtika-ETERNALITY OF WORDS—84–86]. — (2205-2206)
COMMENTARY.
Question - How is it known that what proceeds from the Air-vibrations is the embellishment of the Object (Sound),--and not the Object itself ?
Answer (from the Mimāmsaka)
TEXT (2207).
"INASMUCH AS THE IDEA OF THE production OF THE WORD-SOUND HAS BEEN REJECTED,--AND AS NO OTHER EXPLANATION OF THE PHENOMENON (OF THE HEARING OF WORD-SOUNDS) IS POSSIBLE, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT WHAT IS PRODUCED BY THE ARTICULATIONS IS THE PARTICULAR EMBELLISHMENT.”- [Shlokavārtika
ETERNALITY OF WORDS-126-127).-(2207)
COMMENTARY.
On the ground of Recognition, it has been established that Sound is one and all-pervading ; hence there can be no production of Sound [there can be only manifestation of it]; and from this it is deduced, by implication, that what is produced by the articulations is the embellishment, not the Word. Sound.-(2207)
Says the Opponent It is clearly known that Sound is the effect of the articulations, from the fact that it appears only when these are there, just as, on similar grounds, the sprout is known to be the Effect of the Seed.