The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 1045 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 1045.

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

बह्वल्पविषयत्वेन तत्सङ्केतानुमानतः ।
सामान्यभेदवाच्यत्वमप्येषां न विरुध्यते ॥ १०४५ ॥

bahvalpaviṣayatvena tatsaṅketānumānataḥ |
sāmānyabhedavācyatvamapyeṣāṃ na virudhyate || 1045 ||

Nor is there any incongruity in universals and particulars being denoted by words, as appertaining to larger and smaller number of things,—on the basis of the inference of the relevant convention.—(1045)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

The following might be urged:—“The words may not be synonymous,—because a distinction is assumed in the things; but how can there be the difference between words denoting Universals and those denoting Particulars, unless there are Universals and Particulars?”

Answer:—[see verse 1045 above]

For example, the word ‘Tree’ brings about the ‘Reflection’ inferred in the shape of the ‘Exclusion of non-trees’,—in regard to all trees—the Dhava, Khadira, Palāśa and so forth; hence, as appertaining to a larger number of things, what is denoted by the Word is spoken of as the ‘Universal’ (Commonalty).—On the other hand, in the case of the word ‘Dhava’, there is ‘exclusion of the Khadira and other trees’, which brings about the conception of only a few of the trees (the Dhava ones only); hence what is denoted by it is said to be a ‘Particular’.—(1045)

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