The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 730 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 730.

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

अजल्पाकारमेवादौ विज्ञानं तु प्रजायते ।
ततस्तु समयाभोगस्तस्मात्स्मार्त्तं ततोऽपि ते ॥ ७३० ॥

ajalpākāramevādau vijñānaṃ tu prajāyate |
tatastu samayābhogastasmātsmārttaṃ tato'pi te || 730 ||

At first, every cognition appears in a form free from verbal expression; then comes in the body of conventions; hence the notions in question partake of the nature of remembrance,—for that reason also.—(730)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

The following Text proceeds to show that for the following reason also, the notions of ‘Being’, etc. are effects of memory, and have to be treated as so many Remembrances, and cannot be regarded as ‘Perception’:—[see verse 730 above]

As a matter of fact, there is no Convention bearing upon the ‘Specific Peculiarity’ (of Things); and it is only after one has seen the entity, prior to its determination, only as a point of ‘Specific Peculiarity’, free from all contact with verbal expression,—that there follows its Cognition based upon the functioning of the Sense-organ then there comes to the mind, the body of Conventions bearing upon that same entity;—then there appear* the notions of ‘Being’ and the rest,—in accordance with the said Conventions,—in regard to the thing that has been seen; and these notions embody all the ‘determination’ with reference to the thing, and give verbal expression to them. How can these notions escape from being regarded as ‘Remembrance’?

For that reason also’,—i.e. because they are ‘determined’ as seen.

The notions in question’,—i.e. those of ‘Being’ and the rest.—(730)

Question—“Whence has this sequence in the appearance of Cognitions been deduced?”

Answer:—[see verse 731 next]

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