Verse 925

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

भिन्नसामान्यवचना विशेषवचनाश्च ये ।
सर्वे भवेयुः पर्याया यद्यपोहस्य वाच्यता ॥ ९२५ ॥

bhinnasāmānyavacanā viśeṣavacanāśca ye |
sarve bhaveyuḥ paryāyā yadyapohasya vācyatā || 925 ||

“If Apoha formed the import of words, then all words would be synonymous,—those that denote diverse universals, as well as those that denote particulars.”—[Ślokavārtika-Apoha 42]—(925)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

Kumārila again shows, by means of an Incongruity, that the doctrine of Apoha is contrary to experience:—[see verse 925 above]

The words denotative of diverse Universals,—like ‘Cow’, ‘Horse’, etc.—as well as those denotative of Particulars,—the ‘Variegated Cow’, etc.—would all become synonymous for you; as there would be no difference in their meanings,—just like the words ‘vṛkṣa’ and ‘pādapa’ (both of which denote the tree and are hence synonyms).—(925)

Question:—Why is there no difference in the meaning?

Answer:—[see verse 926 next]