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EXAMINATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF SELF-SUFFICIENT VALIDITY'. 1381
etc. (d) who would read the text, breaking up the words in the wrong place when in regard to each reader of the Veda, all these points are being critically examined by Vedic scholars who are enthusiastically devoted to their task,-how can any reader of the Veda, under the circumstances, not read the Veda with care ?
What is meant by this is that, under the circunstances, as there can be no suspicion regarding the validity of the Veda, -why should the view be admitted that the Veda is the work of a person definitely recognised as free from defects'?
For instance, if students of the Veda, pure and honest themselves, were indifferent and did not notice the mutilations of the Veda being carried on-then it would be possible that in course of time, that Veda would become & mere semblance of the original. As a matter of fact, however, the said pure-minded Vedic scholars are ever alort in putting a check upon people beset with Love and Hate bent upon mutilating the Veda,--the Veda is always carefully perceived. How then can it ever lose its original form - (3108-3113)
The following might be urged (by the Opponent of the Mimāmsaka) Though the Veda is constantly guarded by the said scholars, yet may it not be that having become destroyed at the Universal Dissolution, when it reappeared, it did so in the wrong form ?
The Mimāmsaka's answer to this is as follows:
TEXT (3114).
"WHAT WE HOLD IS THAT THE WORLD HAS NEVER BEEN UNLIKE WHAT IT IS NOW ; AND NO UNIVERSAL DISSOLUTION CAN EVER BE
PERCEIVED IN REALITY." (3114)
COMMENTARY.
The Author supplies the answer to the abovo argument of Kumärila's in the following:
TEXT (3115).
IT CANNOT BE AS ASSERTED. BECAUSE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THE ACTUAL VERBAL TEXT HAS REMAINED THE SAME, BUT THAT THE SAME
HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH THE COMPREHENSION OF ITS MEANING CANNOT BE ADMITTED UNLESS IT IS
ACTUALLY SEEN.-(3115)
COMMENTARY.
All that may be regarded as explained by the above is the fact that the verbal text of the Veda has remained the same ;--but the same has not been the case with the means of comprehending the meaning of the Vedic
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