Verse 2680-2681

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

परेणोक्तास्तु नोच्यन्ते वैलक्षण्यात्स्वरादिभिः ।
नच व्यञ्जकधर्मोऽयं वर्णात्मत्वेन दर्शनात् ॥ २६८० ॥
ततः प्रतिनरं वर्णा भिन्ना दृष्टा घटादिवत् ।
अतो भेदे सुविस्पष्टे तच्चिह्नं किं निषिध्यते ॥ २६८१ ॥

pareṇoktāstu nocyante vailakṣaṇyātsvarādibhiḥ |
naca vyañjakadharmo'yaṃ varṇātmatvena darśanāt || 2680 ||
tataḥ pratinaraṃ varṇā bhinnā dṛṣṭā ghaṭādivat |
ato bhede suvispaṣṭe taccihnaṃ kiṃ niṣidhyate || 2681 ||

As a matter of fact, the words uttered by a man are not exactly those used by others; as there are always differences of accent and other details.—These latter are not properties belonging to the manifesting agency; because they are always perceived in the form of letters. Consequently the letters pronounced by each man must be regarded as distinct,—like the jar and such things. This difference being quite clear, why are you denying the signs of that difference?—(2680-2681)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

‘Accents’—such as the ‘Udātta’ and the rest.

‘Other details’—including swiftness, slowness, and middling.

‘These are not properties, etc. etc.’—‘These’—i.e. Accent, etc.

“Why?”

Because these Accents, etc. are always perceived in the shape of Letters; i.e. they are known as such.

‘The signs of that’—The signs of the difference of the Letters.

‘Why are you denying’—in the words ‘there is no other sign for you’ (Text 2291).—(2680-2681)