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1262
TATTVASANGRAHA: CHAPTER XXIV.
TEXTS (2793–2795)
AT ALL TIMES, MEN ARE MOSTLY PRONE TO TELLING LIES; JUST AS THERE IS NO CONFIDENCE IN REGARD TO THINGS PRESENT, SO ALSO THERE IS NONE REGARDING THE DESCRIPTION OF PAST EVENTS' (Shlokavārtika SOTRA 1. 1. 2; 144).-BY THIS REASON OF YOUR OWN, THERE CAN BE NO PERSON RECOGNISED AS THE AUTHOR OF ANY WORK AT ALL; EVEN THOUGH HE MAY BE DECLARING IT TO BE HIS OWN WORK,-THUS THEN, PLEASE ABANDON ALL HOPE IN THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THE WORD WHICH DOES NOT PROCEED FROM A PERSONALITY ; SPECIALLY AS IN SUCH WORDS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED MANY THINGS CONTRARY TO WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
IN THE VEDA.-(2793-2795)
COMMENTARY.
By this reasoning, etc. etc.'-.e. the reasoning just stated.
The following might be urged" Let all the Scriptures be such as are not the work of Personalities".
The answer to that is-Thus then, etc. etc.-That is, the mere fact of not being the work of Personality cannot prove the truthful character of the Revelation; as such a Reason would be inconclusive', in view of the words of Buddha and others. Because these latter speak of many thingssuch as there is no Soul' and so forth, which are contrary to what is said in the Veda, and which, according to you, are not true. And it is just possible to suspect that the same may be the case with the words of the Veda also. -(2793-2795)
The 'Inconclusiveness of the Mimamsaka's reasoning has been shown. The Author now proceeds to show that it is 'Contradictory' also, inasmuch as it demolishes what is desired by him
TEXT (2796).
THEN AGAIN, IN THIS WAY WHAT WOULD BE PROVED WOULD BE ONLY beginninglessness, NOT freedom from personal authorship. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IF THE VEDA WERE REGARDED AS NOT THE WORK OF ANY PERSON, THEN THE SAME MAY BE SAID
IN REGARD TO OTHER REVELATIONS ALSO (2796)
COMMENTARY.
What the Mimämsaka desires to prove is the fact that the Veda is not the work of man; but what is proved by his reason is not this -but, merely the fact of its being without beginning.
