The Tattvasangraha [with commentary]

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

This page contains verse 3508 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 3508.

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

हेतुसामग्र्यभावाच्च भूतो नाम न सम्प्रति ।
रामादिवदतीते तु काले केन न सम्भवेत् ॥ ३५०८ ॥

hetusāmagryabhāvācca bhūto nāma na samprati |
rāmādivadatīte tu kāle kena na sambhavet || 3508 ||

It is quite possible that what existed in the past is not there in the present because the whole set of its causes is not present. Why should it not be that such a person existed in the past,—like Rāma and others?—(3508)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

Granting that the Corroborative Instance is admissible (and the Omniscient Person does not exist at the present time),—even so, mere apprehension cannot rightly prove the existence of what is desired.—This is pointed out in the following.—[see verse 3508 above]

What truth can there be in any such premiss as that ‘what does not exist in the Present could not have existed in the Past’, For instance, the mere fact that Rāma, Bharata and others do not exist at the present time cannot justify the inference that they did not exist in the past. Thus, in view of the ease of Rāma and others, the Reason put forward by the other party is ‘Inconclusive’.—(3508)

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