Sarvadarshanasangraha 16.71

16.71

Now, this wish might be fulfilled if the epistemic validity of the Veda regarding an already established entity were established; for [the comprehension of meaning] depends on apprehending the linguistic relation, and linguistic usage among elders in the world is restricted entirely to action. For it is impossible that words whose linguistic relation has been apprehended with respect to an action should express an already established entity, or have epistemic validity regarding it. Indeed, the word 'horse', whose relation has been apprehended with respect to horseness, does not express cowness, nor does it possess epistemic validity with respect to it. Therefore, words whose relation has been apprehended with respect to an action have epistemic validity only with respect to action.