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"THE REVEALED WORD."
1219
different from the original, of which it is a mere 'Semblance', a mere husk, masquerading as the real Veda. Such a suspicion is quite possible, and cannot be easily shaken off, until there are proofs to the contrary -(26712673)
The following might be urged-“There is a proof annulling your conclusion. For instance, throughout the country men cannot alter the text of the Veda ; from this we conclude that it has been so in the past and is going to be so in the future".
In anticipation of this, the author provides the following answer
TEXTS (2674-2675).
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF THERE WERE A DESIRE TO ALTER THE TEXT OF THE VEDA, THE WORDS COULD NOT REMAIN THE SAME, SO ALSO IF THERE WERE NO SUCH DESIRE IN THE MINDS OF MEN, THEN AND NOT OTHERWISE, COULD THERE BE AN IMPOSSIBILITY OF REGARDING THE VEDA AND ITS MEANING BEING OTHER THAN THE ONE USUALLY ACCEPTED.-EVEN IF THIS DESIRE IS NOT THERE, THE SUSPICION DOES NOT ALTOGETHER DISAPPEAR.
(2674-2675)
COMMENTARY.
If it were a fact that even when one has the desire to alter the text of the Veda, there is no change in the words of the Veda,-or if the desire itself to change the text were impossible to be produced, then alone could it be taken as proved that man has no capacity to alter the Vedic text; but that conclusion also could not apply to all men; as the mere non-perception (of such change) does not prove anything, and also because there is difference in the capacities of men.-As a matter of fact, however, it is quite possible for man to alter the text of the Vedic passages-such as Shanno devirabhi. staye, etc. or to explain them as meaning something quite different from what they are regarded as meaning. For instance, we find that even Mimām. sakas and the Author of the Nirukta and others do often differ among themselves regarding the explanation of Vedic texts.-Hence the doubts regarding its veracity and fidelity cannot cease altogether.-(2674-2675)
It has been argued by the Mimāmsaka under Text 2286, that, “The Order of sequence is not a product; it is always acoepted as an established entity, etc. etc.", -where certain objections have been answered.
The rejoinder to that is as follows :