आगमे विश्वासटिप्पन्यः

Original

नभसो निरुपाख्यत्वान्नाभिव्यक्तिः प्रकल्पते ।
अत्यक्षत्वाच्च खे नायमालोकः स तथेक्ष्यते ॥ २६०८ ॥

nabhaso nirupākhyatvānnābhivyaktiḥ prakalpate |
atyakṣatvācca khe nāyamālokaḥ sa tathekṣyate || 2608 ||

Ākāśa being undefinable and vague, there can be no ‘manifestation’ of it; and as it is beyond the reach of the senses, what is seen in the pit, is not ākāśa, but light.—(2608)

Kamalaśīla

It has been argued by the Mīmāṃsaka under Text 2230 above, that—“when a large pit is dug in the ground, etc. etc.”

The answer to this is as follows:—[see verses 2608 above]:

It cannot be proved that Ākāśa is a positive entity; hence there can be no ‘manifestation’ of it; specially as there is the idea of Ākāśa only when there is nothing tangible perceived; for instance, in deep darkness, when people do not meet with any obstruction, they are found to say—‘there is nothing here, it is mere Ākāśa’.

Even for those who regard Ākāśa as a positive entity, it is beyond the reach of the senses; how then could there be any cognition of Ākāśa?—This is what is meant by the words—‘As it is beyond the reach of the senses, etc. etc.’

Question “If this is so, then what is it that is seen in the pit?”

Answer It is only Light that is seen.—(2608)