The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 2719 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 2719.

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

विषयेन्द्रियसंस्काररूपा व्यक्तिश्च वर्णवत् ।
अस्यापि प्रतिषेद्धव्या तदाभासेऽपि चेतसि ॥ २७१९ ॥

viṣayendriyasaṃskārarūpā vyaktiśca varṇavat |
asyāpi pratiṣeddhavyā tadābhāse'pi cetasi || 2719 ||

The ‘manifestation’,—as in the case of letters,—can only consist in the embellishment of the object or the sense-organ concerned. And here also, in regard to the cognition envisaging the sphoṭa, the said ‘manifestation’ can be denied in the same way (as in the case of letters).—(2719)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

As in the case of Letters’;—in connection with Letters, the idea that ‘there is manifestation in the shape of the embellishment of the Object and the Sense-organ’ has been refuted by showing that none of the alternatives possible is admissible regarding its capacity or otherwise of bringing about cognitions;—the same refutation is applicable to the present case also.

The cognition envisaging the Sphoṭa’—‘Tat’ stands for the Sphoṭa. This is said on admitting (for the sake of argument) that there is such a cognition.

What is meant is as follows:—If there did really appear in consciousness a verbal entity called ‘Sphoṭa’ as something apart from the Letters,—then its ‘manifestation’ could be possible; as ‘manifestation’ would mean ‘apprehension As a matter of fact, however, no such entity appears in Consciousness,—as already explained before.—But, let it appear in Consciousness; even so, the said ‘manifestation’ cannot be acceptable; as by its very nature, it cannot be either capable or incapable of being apprehended.—(2719)

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