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EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY'. 1315
Question :-"What is the reason for this ? "
Answer - The Cognition does not, etc. etc. '_' Tat Cognition.--(2923-2924)
stands for the
In the following Text, the Author anticipates and answers the rejoinder of the other party :
TEXT (2925).
IF THE COGNITION IS HELD TO BE NOT-MOMENTARY AND EVEN ETERNAL, THEN THIS GOES AGAINST WHAT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED ELSEWHERE, AND IT IS ALSO NULLIFIED BY REASONING.
--(2925)
COMMENTARY.
In another context, Kumärila has declared the unity and eternality of Cognitions, as declared by him in the following words' For us, Cognitions being of the same nature as the Spirit (Soul), are held to be eternal and one" [Shlokavārtika-Eternality of Words, 404].
Under this view, the Proposition put forward (that Cognitions are eternal) would go against what has been accepted elsewhere, -as also against Inference. For instance, it has been held that Cognitions are momentary ; as said in the Bhāşya (Shabara)—“It is momentary and does not remain till the time of the appearance of another Cognition" (Sü. 1. 1. 5, page 9, line 17); and it also goes against the words of Kumarila himself, to the effect that“ Cognition does not continue to exist for a single moment” (ShloleavārtikaSense-perception 55).-(2925)
The following Text points out how the assertion of the Eternality of Cognitions is nullified by reasoning :
TEXT (2926).
(a) IT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED IN DETAIL THAT ALL THINGS ARE IN PERPETUAL FLUX';(6) AS FOR THE ETERNAL THING, IT IS NEVER produced ; WHAT NEED THEN COULD IT HAVE OF A
CAUSE ?-(2926)
COMMENTARY.
If Cognition is eternal, then it cannot be right to hold that it needs a Cause; this is pointed out in the words—' As regards the eternal thing, etc. etc. '-It is only what is produced that needs something else as its Cause ; what is eternal, however, can never be produced; what need can that have of it (2926)
In the following Teat the author shows, through a formulated argument, that the idea of the Mimāmsaler is annulled by Inference
