The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 2563-2564 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 2563-2564.

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

ज्ञानोत्पत्तावयोग्यत्वे गम्येत न कदाचन ।
सर्वैः सर्वत्र शब्दोऽयं तज्ज्ञानेऽनुपयोगतः ॥ २५६३ ॥
ज्ञानोत्पत्तौ तु सामर्थ्ये सर्वैः सर्वत्र सर्वदा ।
अवगम्येत शब्दोऽयं ज्ञानहेतुतया स्थितेः ॥ २५६४ ॥

jñānotpattāvayogyatve gamyeta na kadācana |
sarvaiḥ sarvatra śabdo'yaṃ tajjñāne'nupayogataḥ || 2563 ||
jñānotpattau tu sāmarthye sarvaiḥ sarvatra sarvadā |
avagamyeta śabdo'yaṃ jñānahetutayā sthiteḥ || 2564 ||

If the word-sound did not possess the capacity to produce cognitions, then it could never be cognised by anyone anywhere; as it could not have any bearing upon its cognition.—If, on the other hand, it did possess the capacity, then it would be cognised by all men, at all times and at all places; as it would continue to be the cause of that cognition.—(2563-2564)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

By its very nature, the Word-Sound should be either incapable or capable of producing its cognition. These are the only two alternatives possible.—In the former case—i.e. if it is incapable—the Word-Sound would never be cognised by any one. In the latter case, it would be cognised by all men at all times; because it would always be of the same form.

From this it follows that the Embellishment can have no capacity at all.—(2563-2564)

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