The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 2816 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 2816.

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

सापेक्षं हि प्रमाणत्वं न व्यवस्थाप्यतव्यस्थाप्यते क्वचित् ।
अनवस्थितहेतुश्च कः साध्यं साधयिष्यति ॥ २८१६ ॥

sāpekṣaṃ hi pramāṇatvaṃ na vyavasthāpyatavyasthāpyate kvacit |
anavasthitahetuśca kaḥ sādhyaṃ sādhayiṣyati || 2816 ||

“That ‘validity’ is ‘dependent’ (not self-sufficient) can never be securely established;—and when his reason itself has not been established, who can prove that which is to be proved by that reason?”—(2816)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

Cannot he securely established’,—i.e. it would involve an Infinite Regress.

Question:—There might be an Infinite Regress; what is the harm?

AnswerWhen the Reason, etc. etc.’—i.e. that party whose Reason itself has not been established—duly ascertained.—What is meant is that it is only when the Indicator itself has become known that it indicates the object which is ‘pervaded by’—invariably concomitant with—itself; it does not do so by its mere presence.—So that, when the Party himself has no definite idea of the Reason, how can he adduce that Reason for convincing the other party?—(2816)

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