Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 1

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 79

68
VAISHALI INSTITUTE RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. I
the inference of B. And thus it becomes inference adduced for another. But the advocate of the communicative perception may also plead that the expression of his perceptual cognition serves to point to the object competent to be perceived. So there is no reason for differentiation between them except one's bias.
The upshot of the discussion of the aforesaid contention is clarified in the following verse which sets forth the manner in which the perceptual cognition serves the purpose of communication.
Text
pratyakṣapratipannārthapratipadi ca yadvacaḥ/ pratyakşam pratibhasasya nimittatvat tad ucyate//
Translation
"A statement which communicates a fact known by perception is designated as perception inasmich as it serves as the means of the emergence of such perceptual communication (in another person)."
(XII)
Elucidation
The meaning of the verse is quite obvious and can be easily deduced from the foregoing discussion. It is of course stated by way of inference for the conviction of a man who entertains a doubt about the possibility of the communication of perceptual knowledge to another person. The probans 'as the means of emergence etc' is meant to drive home the validity of the thesis maintained by the author designation of verbal statement as perception is a case of transference of epithet of the effect 'cognition' to the statement as the cause of it. Such transference of epithet is seen in the statement: 'Butter is life' (ayur vai ghrtam). Butter is the condition of longevity. But the condition is designated by the epithet of the effect, namely life.
The
Now the author sets forth the definition of syllogistic inference.
Text
sādhyāvinābhuno hetor vaco yat pratipadakam/ parārtha manumānam tat pakṣādi vacanātmakam//
Translation
"A statement which demonstrates a probans standing in the relation of necessary concomitance to the probandum is called inference for the sake of other (i.e. syllogistic argument). It consists in the statement of the subject (pakşa) and others,"
(XIII)
***