________________
EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY'. 1359
Kumarila has again argued as follows-" Thus ther, from excellences follows the absence of defects,--from this absence, follows the absence of the two forms of Invalid Cognition; consequently the general law remains undenied ", and so forth.-[Shlokavdrtika 1. 1. 2; 65).
This also cannot be right, when there is no certainty regarding the absence of defects.This is what is pointed out in the following: -
TEXTS (3048-3049). WHEN THERE IS NO COGNITION OF THE absence of defects, HOW COULD THERE BE ANY COGNITION OF THE absence of the two kinds of Invalid Cognition,-FROM WHICH THE CERTAINTY REGARDING VALIDITY COULD BE DEDUCED I-AND IF, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO COGNITION OF THE ABSENCE OF THE TWO KINDS OF INVALID COGNITION, THE Self-Validity (OF THE COGNITION) WERE COGNISED, THEN, AS BEFORE, THERE WOULD BE NO DOUBT OR MISCONCEPTION AT ALL.--
(3048-3049)
COMMENTARY. If there came about a Cognition free from the Doubt and Misconception, which are contrary' to that Cognition,-then that Cognition should be valid; otherwise, if the matter were beset with the contrary notions, how could the general law come in at all? Because the two contrary notions, Doubt and Misconception, are effects of defects; hence there can be no certainty regarding the absence of these contrary notions, unless there is certainty regarding the absence of defects.
The absence of the two kinds of Invalid Cognition i.e. the absence of Doubt and Misconception.-(3048-3049)
The following Text points out the contrary Cognition':
TEXT (3050).
[THE CONTRARY COGNITION BEING IN THE FORM)-(a) 'IS HIS ASSERTION TRUE OR UNTRUE?' (DOUBT), OR (6) IT IS ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE" (MISCONCEPTION); (THESE WOULD BE 'CONTRARY'] BECAUSE THERE IS THE CERTAINTY THAT ALL COGNITIONS ARE
VALID BY THEMSELVES.-(3050)
COMMENTARY.
So far it has been explained that the absence of defects and other conditions do not, by their mere presence, help in the bringing about of the certainty regarding Validity; now the Author proceeds to explain in detail that if the certainty regarding the said Absence of Defects were essential,
