2044 Verse 3296

Original

अभावेऽप्यनुमानस्य नातोऽसत्ताविनिश्चयः ।
असमारब्धधूमादिकार्यवह्न्यादिसत्त्ववत् ॥ ३२९६ ॥

abhāve’pyanumānasya nāto’sattāviniścayaḥ |
asamārabdhadhūmādikāryavahnyādisattvavat || 3296 ||

Even if there be no inference, that alone cannot bring, about certainty regarding non-existence (of the omniscient person); as in the case of the existence of the fire which has not yet begun to emit its effect in the shape of smoke.—(3296)

Kamalaśīla

It has been explained before that Proof (Means of Cognition) cannot be the cause of things; nor can it be their Pervader; how then can the absence of Proof mean the absence of the Thing? For instance, in the case of the Fire in the heated Iron-ball,—while its effect in the shape of Smoke has not begun to appear, and it is still hidden inside a hut,—there is no Inference of it, because the Inferential Indicative (in the shape of Smoke) is not there; and yet its existence does not cease (on that account),—and there can be no certainty regarding its non-existence; in the same manner, in the proving of the Existence of the Omniscient Person, if there is no Inference, that makes the matter only doubtful.

‘That alone’—that is, mere absence of Inference.

‘Asamārabdha, etc. etc.’—That Fire which has not begun to bring about its effect in the shape of smoke; in regard to the existence of this fire, there can be no certainty.—(3296)