The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 3211-3212 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 3211-3212.

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

ते हि नित्यैर्गुणैर्नित्यं कर्मभिश्च समन्विताः ।
नित्यवेदाभिधायित्वसम्भवान्न विरोधिनः ॥ ३२११ ॥
अनित्यस्य तु बुद्धादेर्न नित्यागमगम्यता ।
नित्यत्वे चागमस्येष्टे वृथा सर्वज्ञकल्पना ॥ ३२१२ ॥

te hi nityairguṇairnityaṃ karmabhiśca samanvitāḥ |
nityavedābhidhāyitvasambhavānna virodhinaḥ || 3211 ||
anityasya tu buddhāderna nityāgamagamyatā |
nityatve cāgamasyeṣṭe vṛthā sarvajñakalpanā || 3212 ||

“They are equipped with eternal qualities and eternal functions; hence there is no incongruity in these being mentioned in the eternal Veda.—On the other hand, Buddha, etc. are perishable beings, hence it is not possible for them to be mentioned in the eternal scripture. And when the scripture is held to be eternal, the assuming of the omniscient person is entirely futile.”—(3211-3212)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

To be mentioned in the eternal scripture’—Because, if they were so capable, the relationship between the Word and its meaning would have to be regarded as ephemera; not-eternal; because the other party does not admit of an eternal scripture;—and because, if they did admit of it, the postulating of the Omniscient Person would be entirely futile.—(3211-3212)

The same idea is further explained:—[see verses 3213-3214 next]

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