1901 Verse 3036

Original

न नाम दूष्यते वाक्यं दोषैर्गुणनिराकृतैः ।
गुणानिश्चयतस्तत्तु विनिश्चेतुं न शक्यते ॥ ३०३६ ॥

na nāma dūṣyate vākyaṃ doṣairguṇanirākṛtaiḥ |
guṇāniścayatastattu viniścetuṃ na śakyate || 3036 ||

It is true that the assertion is not vitiated by the defects, which are warded off by the excellences; but as there can be no certainty regarding the excellences, there can be no certainty regarding the said fact (of not being vitiated).—(3036)

Kamalaśīla

It has been asserted, under Text 2888 that—“the assertion does not become vitiated by the defects which are warded off by the excellence of the Teacher, etc. etc.”.

The answer to this is as follows:—[see verse 3036 above]

It may be true that the assertion of highly qualified men is not vitiated by defects, these latter being warded off by the excellences; but even so, inasmuch as the excellences present in the ‘chain’ of other persons is beyond the reach of the senses, there can be no certainty regarding it; and in the absence of such certainty, there can be no certainty regarding the assertion of the qualified person; and what has not been duly ascertained cannot be self-sufficient in its validity.—(3036)