NOTES
167
Hence its absence from nescience. Further it is unintelligible for us to admit destruction by cognition for what is beginningless and existent. Brahman is beginningless and positive and it is not destroyed by any cognition. The same position holds good in the case of nescience also. To this the Advaitin replies that the term " positive entity " is used with reference to nescience in a figurative sense. It does not in reality mean a positive entity. The term signifies that it is different from non-existence. The siddhantin replies that the intended significance of the term "positive entity" alone will do for the purpose of establishing the non-destruction by cognition for the beginningless existent, on the analogy of Drahman. Instead of a positive existent we have in its place the beginningless being different from non-existence ; the same analogy holds good in the case of nescience also. The Advaitin contents that the Dvaitin's inference is conditioned by the adjunct "self-hood." The Dvaitin's inference is as follows. "That which is a beginningless and positive entity is destroyed by cognition, because it is a beginningless and positive entity like Brahman." The adjunct self-hood is present wherever there is the probandum. If Brahman is the probandum, self-hood also is there. Thus the pervasion between the adjunct and probandum is secured. The adjunct must be non-pervasive in respect of the probans, i.e., "beginningless and positive entity". This is present in the subject and there is no self-hood there. Thus the non-pervasion in respect of the probans is secured for the adjunct. The Dvaitin points out the inconstancy of the pervasion of· the probandum by the adjunct in respect of absolute non-existence. Absolute non-existence is not destroyed by cognition. Being not d~troyed by cognition is the probandum. It is present in absolute non-existenc1:1 and the adjunct selfhood is not there. Hence the inconstanty of the pervasion. Thus it is established· that the adduced adjunct is defective. Therefore the inference is not con· ditioned by an adjunct. •
