Essay name: Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra (study)
Author:
Nimisha Sarma
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra: a significant work of the syncretic Nyaya-Vaisesika school of Indian philosophy widely used as a beginner's textbook in southern India and has many commentaries. This study includes an extensive overview of the Nyaya and Vaisesika philosophy, epistemology and sources of valid knowledge. It further deals with the contents and commentaries of the Tarkabhasa.
Chapter 4 - Purvabhaga of Tarkabhasa: Contents
65 (of 73)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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152
that is on account of the presence of the bile pigments in the eye. Though the
invalidity of knowledge is inferred, yet knowledge itself is intrinsically
presumed to be valid. Its validity is not subject to inference. The Mim膩峁僺aka
advocates the self validity of knowledge both in respect of its origin (utpatti)
and ascertainment (jnapti). The validity of knowledge arises together with that
knowledge and it is also known as soon as that knowledge is known. The very
conditions which give rise to knowledge also give rise to its validity as well as
to the belief in that validity. Validity of knowledge and knowledge of that
validity arise together with that knowledge and from those very conditions
which give rise to that knowledge. Neither validity nor belief in that validity is
due to any external condition and neither requires any verification by anything
else. From these facts two conclusions are drawn by the Mim膩峁僺akas, (i) the
validity of knowledge arises from the very conditions that give rise to that
knowledge and not from any extra conditions. (ii) The validity of knowledge
is also known as soon as the knowledge arises; belief does not await the
verification of the knowledge by some other knowledge, say, an inference.
This Mim膩峁僺膩 view, in its double aspect, is known as the theory of intrinsic
137 validity. Kum膩rila says, 鈥渋ntrinsic validity belongs to all sources of right
knowledge, for a power by itself non-existence cannot be brought into being
by another. 138
Knowledge may be mediated by the senses, inferential marks
137. SV. 2.1.1. as quoted in AIP.
138.
svata岣� svarva-pram膩峁嚹乶膩m pr膩m膩峁噛am iti gamyat膩m /
na hi svato'sati sakti岣� kartum anyena 艣akyate. SV. 2. 47.
