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EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY'. 1317
TEXT (2930).
INASMUCH AS CONVICTION AND WRONG COGNITION ARE MUTUALLY DESTRUCTIVE-IF WRONG COGNITION BECOMES EXCLUDED,
CONVICTION REMAINS ENTIRELY UNAFFECTED.-(2930)
COMMENTARY.
Question "Why should the two be mutually destructive ? "
Answer - If Wrong Cognition becomes excluded, etc. etc. '-Conviction has a form which is the reverse of Wrong Cognition; hence it does not gain a footing until it has set aside the Wrong Cognition; just as warmth does not gain a footing until it has set aside coolness. Hence when an object has been taken up by Conviction, where could there be any room for the Wrong Cognition ?-(2930)
The following Text points out that the Mimamsaka's view involves selfcontradiction also :
TEXT (2931).
THUS THEN, FOR ESTABLISHING THE VALIDITY OF THE COGNITION ARISING FROM THE VEDA,-ANY SUCH ASSERTION AS THAT IT ARISES FROM CAUSES FREE FROM DEFECTS AND SO FORTH, IS OF
NO USE.—(2931)
COMMENTARY.
Hétütthabhāva'-character of arising from causes.
And so forth '-includes-(a) the assertion of its not being the work of an untrustworthy person, (b) the assertion that it is never sublated. As has been declared in the following passage "The Cognition produced by the Veda is valid,-(a) because it is produced by causes free from defects, -like cognitions produced by the Inferential Indicative, the Words of a Trustworthy Person, and Sense-perception; also (6) because it is not the work of an untrustworthy person, and (c) because it is free from sublation" -(Shlokavārtika, Sü. 1. 1. 2; 184-185). Consequently, for the proving of the validity of the Cognition produced by the Veda, when the Mināmsaka states a reason,-it becomes implied that the validity of that Cognition is due to extraneous causes ;-and this idea is negatived by the same writer when he asserts that “the validity of all Cognitions is inherent in themselves". Thus there is clear self-contradiction.-(2931)
The following Texts anticipate and answer the rejoinder of the Mimämsala to the above :
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