Shringaraprakasha 4.p1.3

4.p1.3

And likewise, that which employs the syntactic roles and so forth in actions according to its own will, but is not employed by them, is the agent; that which is reached by another action of the agent is the object; that which, as the most effective means in accomplishing the action, operates immediately is the instrument; the substrate of the action, mediated by the agent or by the object, is the locus; that which, determined as an effect of the action, experiences connection with the object is the recipient; that which, as a fixed point, experiences division caused solely by the action through the agent or through the object is the point of departure; the specific relation of syntactic and non-syntactic roles brought about by aiding the action denoted by the heard verb is the remainder; and he who, by giving an order or the like, directs one who is already acting toward the action is its instigator, the cause, and is an agent. And in this way, just as pieces of wood, only when depending on lac and so forth, experience the capacity to be conjoined with one another, so otherwise mutual conjunction and disjunction would not occur. As it has been said: 'That by which Devadatta, having been here, comes to be in Pāṭaliputra—that indeed is action.' Granted that action exists, but how is it distinct from the syntactic roles? And surely you too do not deny the distinction between action and syntactic role, as in: 'it pains the thief', 'it sickens the thief'. [Reply:] We say: action is indeed distinct from the syntactic roles, because it is the cause of a single designation for multiple entities. In this world, whatever is the cause of a single designation for multiple entities is distinct from them, as the universal is from the individual; and action is the cause of this single designation 'syntactic role' for multiple entities such as the agent and the others; therefore it is distinct from them. Because it is followed [by them]: in this world, whatever is followed by entities is distinct from them, as a king is approached and followed by men; action is followed by the syntactic roles, therefore it is distinct from them. Because it is perceived as an effect: whatever is perceived as produced [by something] is distinct from it, as a son is perceived as distinct from the father; action is perceived as produced by the syntactic roles, therefore it is distinct from them. Because of non-perception when there is perception [of the other];