~OTES
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The Advaitin points out an inferente, where inference subIates perception. The perception of the colour of the sky gives us the impression that it is blue. This is refuted by the inference " the sky is not blue, because it is incorporeal." The cognition of the colour of the sky is due to verbal testi· mony and not due to inference. The Advaitins frame an inference to refute the validity of the perception. " Perception '{hich is under dispute is delusive cognition, because it is a perception, like the perception of the non-existent mythical city of the gandharvas." The Dvaitin frames a counter-inference in order to occasion the undesirable. It is as follows. "The vedic statements with reference to Brahman that it is existence, knowledge etc. are invalid, because they are statements like the mean· ingless statements about an aged ox." The adduced invalidty of the vedic statements is not acceptable to the Advaitin. The term perception has to be explained. If it is interpreted to mean the semblance of perception, there is the absence of such an entity in the subject. Hence the non-establishment of the probans. If it is said to be valid perception such an entity is not present in the example. If it is defined as mere knowledge there is over-pervasion of the probans in respect of the cognition generated by Vedic statements like " knowledge, existence bliss" etc. XXIV (225-235). The Advaitin's inference establishing the illusory nature of the universe is contradicted by scriptures. The mantra in the I_{.gveda, II-24-12 is cited as an instance for it. This mantra predicates reality of the universe. The reality predicated by the scripture, the Advaitin holds, is phenomenal, The Dvaitin argues that it is futile to declare phenomenal reality because nobody disputes it. So scripture predicates absolute reality because it has to refute the position popularly held by the Advaitins, namely, the ascription• of jlhenomeual reality to the universe. The .Advaitin urges that scriptural statements like ".there are no differents whatsoever here" negaJ;e the reality explained by st~ements that " the universe is ;eal". The scriptural statements
