0021 Verse 23

Original

सर्वं च साधनं वृत्तं विपर्यासनिवर्तकं ।
निश्चयोत्पादकं चेदं न तथा युक्तिसङ्गतम् ॥ २३ ॥

sarvaṃ ca sādhanaṃ vṛttaṃ viparyāsanivartakaṃ |
niścayotpādakaṃ cedaṃ na tathā yuktisaṅgatam || 23 ||

All Means (of Cognition), when operative, serve to set aside Wrong Cognition and to produce Definitely Certain Cognition; this would not be compatible with reason (under the Sāṃkhya theory).—(23)

Kamalaśīla

With the following text the Author proceeds to criticise the theory of the Effect being existent, from another point of view—[see verse 23 above]

‘Operative’—active.—‘Wrong Cognition’ includes also Doubtful Cognition, as it partakes of both the contraries (affirmation and denial), and hence is as much an ‘imposition’ (as Wrong Cognition).—As a matter of fact, every Means (of Cognition), when operating on its objective, does two things: it sets aside Misconception and Doubt relating to the object of Cognition, and produces a definitely Certain Cognition relating to it. This fact cannot be compatible with reason, under the Sāṃkhya theory of the ‘Existent Effect’.—(23)