________________
EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY'. 1309
TEXT (2909). As A MATTER OF FACT, SENSE-PERCEPTION, ETC. ARE NOT QUITE RECOGNISED AS ' pramāna ', ' VALID'; AND UNTIL THEY ARE 30 RECOGNISED, NO BUSINESS WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
(2909)
COMMENTARY.
If Cognitions did not need (corroboration by) other Cognitions, then, in regard to Sense-perception and the rest, there could be no certainty as to their being 'valid '; and thus there would be an end to all businesstransactions.--(2909)
To the above, the Mimamsaka provides the following answer :
TEXT (2910).
“ BEFORE THE COGNITION IS APPREHENDED, IT REMAINS THERE IN ITS OWN FORM, AND SO FAR AS ITS OWN OBJECTIVE IS CONCERNED, IT IS INDEPENDENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT ; AND AFTER ITS OWN OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN COGNISED, THE COGNITION ITSELE
COMES TO BE COGNISED BY OTHER COGNITIONS."-(2910)
COMMENTARY.
What is meant is as follows:-Even though in regard to the definite cognition of its own form, the Cognition requires another Cognition, yet there can be no end to business-transactions; because in regard to the apprehension of its own objective, the Cognition is independent and selfsufficient; and when the object has become apprehended, then by that alone can all transactions be carried on; what use then would there be for considering whether there is certainty or uncertainty? Because the sole purpose of all this lies in the definite cognition of the object concerned. Such in brief is the purport of the argument.
The meaning of the words is now explained
Before the cognition is apprehended'-.e. before the certainty that this is valid'.
In its own form'-i.e. in the form of the apprehension of the thing.
• Independent'-i.e. not depending upon another cognition, for the purpose of the apprehersion of its object.
When this-its object-has become duly cognised, with certainty, then, later on, the Cognition itself becomes cognised through Inference, etc. This has been thus declared One does not apprehend the Cognition until the object has been cognised; when the object has become cognised, then the Cognition becomes cognised by means of Inference (2910)
