The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 714 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 714.

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

प्रत्यक्षतः प्रसिद्धास्तु सत्त्वगोत्वादि जातयः ।
अक्षव्यापारसद्भावे सदादिप्रत्ययोदयात् ॥ ७१४ ॥

pratyakṣataḥ prasiddhāstu sattvagotvādi jātayaḥ |
akṣavyāpārasadbhāve sadādipratyayodayāt || 714 ||

“Such ‘universals’ (communities, genuses) as ‘being’, ‘cow’ and the like are vouched for by direct perception; as the notion of ‘being’ and the rest are found to appear only when the sense-organs are functioning.”—(714)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

Question—How is the existence of ‘Universals’ (Genuses, Communities) proved?

Answer:—[see verse 714 above]

It is a well-established principle that when one thing follows the presence and absence of another thing, the former proceeds from the latter;—in regard to Substance and the rest, the appearance of the notion of ‘Being’ (Existence), etc. follows the presence and absence of the functioning of the Sense-organs; wherefore then could the said notion not be regarded as produced by the Sense-organs,—just like any other Cognition through the Sense-organs? If it were not so regarded, then it would lead to an absurdity.—(714)

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