0630 Verse 872

Original

तत्र स्वलक्षणं तावन्न शब्दैः प्रतिपाद्यते ।
सङ्केतव्यवहाराप्तकालव्याप्तिवियोगतः ॥ ८७२ ॥

tatra svalakṣaṇaṃ tāvanna śabdaiḥ pratipādyate |
saṅketavyavahārāptakālavyāptiviyogataḥ || 872 ||

Of these, ‘specific individuality’ cannot be denoted by words; because it can have no connection with the time of convention and usage.—(872)

Kamalaśīla

The following Text proceeds to show that ‘Specific Individuality’ cannot form the ‘Import (or Denotation) of Words’ because there can be no Convention in regard to it:—[see verse 872 above]

‘Cannot be denoted by words’;—that is, because there can be no Convention in regard to it.

Question:—“Why can there be no Convention in regard to it?”

Answer:—Because there is ‘viyoga’, absence,—of connection with the time related to Convention and Usage,—‘there can be no Convention in regard to the Specific Individuality’ [this has to be supplied].

What is meant is that Convention is made for the purposes of usage; and not through mere love for it; hence people can rightly make Conventions only with regard to things present at the time related to that Convention and Usage;—not with regard to anything else. As regards ‘Specific Individuality’, it cannot be present at the time of the Convention and Usage; hence there can be no Convention in regard to it.—(872)