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"THE REVEALED WORD."
1131
follow would be that there would be no certainty relating to it; it would not follow that the thing itself does not exist. Because on the cessation of the Means of Cognition, the object of Cognition does not conse, -as has been explained above-on the basis of its being the Means or the Pervader.
Aste'-on being refuted.
All that can be asserted with reason is that 'neither of the two views is proved '; the particle iti' has to be added, after nästi'. -(2426-2428)
The same idea is further strengthened by means of an example:
TEXT (2429).
FOR INSTANCE, WHEN ON THE GROUND OF INCORPOREALITY', THE OTHER PARTY SEEKS TO PROVE THE ETERNALITY (OF WORD-SOUNDS),
AND AGAINST THIS IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, IN VIEW OF Pleasure, WHICH ALSO IS 'INCORPOREAL (AND YET NOTETERNAL), THE SAID REASON IS 'INCONCLUSIVE', -IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY FOLLOW (FROM THIS COUNTERARGUMENT) THAT THE WORD-SOUND IS
PERISHABLE. (2429)
COMMENTARY.
For example, the man who holds the Word-Sound to be eternal, --with a view to prove the said eternality, which is one entity-puts forward the argument that the Word-Sound must be eternal, because it is incorporeal, like Akasha'; thereupon his opponent puts forward the counter-argument that- The Word-Sound cannot be regarded as eternal, on the ground of its incorporeality, because in view of the case of Pleasure, the said reason is inconclusive in this way, though the Reason for the entity, in the shape of 'eternality', has been refuted, yet it does not become proved that the said Word-Sound is not-eternal ;-80 also in the case in question this clause is to be taken as understood.
The term 'yatha' in the text is misplaced; it should be understood as coming after 'uktēpi'.
After the word "Shabdah, the phrase nityah siddhyati' has to be added. Or, a single use may be taken as serving both purposes, -as in the case of Bhima' and others.—(2429)
It has been argued above-under Text 2101, that," when the other party adduce proofs in support of the two ends of the Veda, the upholders of the Veda have their purpose accomplished by the refutation of those proofs".
The answer to this is as follows: