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1064
TATTVASANGRAHA : CHAPTER XXIV.
The answer to this is that that cannot be right; this is what is explained in the words—' But your connection has beginning'.
Further, if you admit of the eternal Universal' in the case of the Connection between the Word and its meaning.--in that case it bocomes established that there is an entity that is eternal; and this is exactly our view.
It might be urged that that fact (of eternality) does not become established in connection with the Word, which is the matter under consideration.
The answer to that is- Bret even so, there cannot be a dual form the "two forms' consisting of the Connection and the Universal '; only one form is possible, not the Universal ; because the Universal' subsists in several individuals; while the Connection is one only.
Question - How do you know that the Connection is one only ?
Answer As a matter of fact, the Connection is only a kind of Potency, etc. etc. The Connection is not anything different from tho Potency.
Question What if that is so ?
Answer And of this no diversity is perceived':--Diversity - plurálity.
Question: Why is it not perceived ?
Answer: It is always inferred from its effects':-that is, in all cases, it can only be inferred from the effects it produces ; es declared in the words * Potencies of all things can be proved only by the fact of their effects not being otherwise explicable'. It is for this reason that the Poteney only follow the diversity of its effects; that is, when it gives rise to any notion of diversity regarding itself, it is only in accordance with the diversity of its effects; that is to say, on the ground that there can be no idea of diversity in the Potency unless there is diversity in its effects.- In the case in question, there is no diversity in the effect. Because the effect in the case of the Words) consists only in the bringing about of the particular cognition; and this cognition could be based either upon the Word or upon the Object (denoted by it). There is no diversity in the former; because the Word is always recognised as the same. Nor can there be diversity in the cognition based upon the Object; because even when the word 'Cow' has been uttered hundreds of times, the cognition produced is nover of any other kind (save that of the Cow).
The upshot of the whole is stated in the words-' In fact, the Potency, etc. etc. It is because the cognition of the meaning (denotation of the object, is not otherwise explicable that the Potency of the 'Denoted and Denoter' is presumed ; and as this purpose is accomplished by a single Potency, the assumption of several Potencies is absolutely useless.
Nor can the diversity of the Potency be inferred on the basis of the fact of denotation not being otherwise explicable; all that this fact can indicate is mere Potency (not its diversity)-(2257-2263)
The following texts proceed to show that for the following reason also the notion of the Connection being made cannot be right, and consequently, the Connection must be eternal :