The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

by Ganganatha Jha | 1937 | 699,812 words | ISBN-10: 8120800583 | ISBN-13: 9788120800588

This page contains verse 645 of the 8th-century Tattvasangraha (English translation) by Shantarakshita, including the commentary (Panjika) by Kamalashila: dealing with Indian philosophy from a Buddhist and non-Buddhist perspective. The Tattvasangraha (Tattvasamgraha) consists of 3646 Sanskrit verses; this is verse 645.

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

इच्छारचितसङ्केतमनस्काराद्युपायतः ।
तत्रेष्टसिद्धिर्बुद्ध्यादौ सङ्ख्यैतेनैव वा भवेत् ॥ ६४५ ॥

icchāracitasaṅketamanaskārādyupāyataḥ |
tatreṣṭasiddhirbuddhyādau saṅkhyaitenaiva vā bhavet || 645 ||

What is desired to be proved could be proved as being due to such causes as an imaginary convention arising from mere whim and so forth. The existence of ‘number’ in cognition and other things also may be due to the same cause.—(645)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

Causes apart from the ‘Elephant, etc.’ are already admitted (by us also) in the shape of imaginary Convention and the like; so that the argument adduced is entirely futile (the conclusion being admitted by us).

The term ‘and so forth’ is meant to include the Remembrance of Convention and such other things.

If however what you intend to prove is the fact of the notions in question having causes other than the said Imaginary Convention and the like, then the reason adduced is inconclusive. This is shown by means of a Reductio ad Absurdum—‘The existence of Number in Cognition, etc., etc.’;—‘The same cause’,—i.e. the fact of being different from the notions (of Elephant, etc.).—What is meant is that the ‘Number’ involved in such notions as ‘One Cognition’, ‘Two Cognitions’, ‘Five Actions’, would be due to the same Cause; as here too ‘the difference from the said notions’ is present:—As a matter of fact the said Number is not due to this circumstance; hence the Reason is Inconclusive.—(645)

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