2151 Verse 3517

Original

ननु नैवं प(तत्प?)रो नित्यः शक्यो लब्धुमिहागमः ।
नित्यश्चेदर्थवादत्वं तत्परे स्यादनित्यता ॥ ३५१७ ॥

nanu naivaṃ pa(tatpa?)ro nityaḥ śakyo labdhumihāgamaḥ |
nityaścedarthavādatvaṃ tatpare syādanityatā || 3517 ||

“As a matter of fact, no scriptural text to this effect can be found; but if such an assertion were eternal, then it could be only commendatory; and if it really spoke of a person, then it would be not-eternal.”—(3517)

Kamalaśīla

‘To this effect’—i.e. speaking of the Omniscient Person.

Question:—“Why cannot it be found?”

Answer:—‘If it is eternal, etc. etc.’—If the scriptural text speaking of the Omniscient Person is eternal, then it must be purely commendatory,—so that it must be taken as really having an entirely different meaning. If it is not held to be merely commendatory, then it must be non-eternal.—(3517)

Question:—Why should it be commendatory, if eternal?

Answer:—[see verse 3518 next]