Vidhiviveka 5

5

nanu śaṅkhadhvanivadetat syāt ? yathā hi śaṅkhaśabdāt pravartitavyamityupayuktasvarūpasambandhasaṃvida eva pravartante, netare . na ca śaṅkhaśabdaḥ pravṛtterabhidhāyako'nyasya vā kasya citpravṛttihetoḥ, yena jñāpakaḥ syāt . vārtametat . na hi śaṅkhadhvaniḥ pravṛttyupayuktasaṅgatitayā pravṛttikāraṇaṃ śaṅkhaśabdāt pravartitavyamiti, api tu pravartitavyamiti . prakṛtyarthā'tirikte pratyayārthe ca vidheyasya puṃso'bhiprāyabhede kṛtasaṅketastamanusmārayati .

Objection: could this not be like the sound of a conch? For just as only those who have cognized the relation to its appropriate form engage in activity upon thinking, 'one must act from the sound of a conch,' and not others; nor does the sound of a conch signify activity or any other cause of activity whereby it might be an informative indicator? This is idle talk. For the sound of a conch is not a cause of activity by way of a connection relevant to activity in the manner of 'one must act from the sound of a conch,' but rather [because of the understanding] 'one must act.' It reminds [the listener] of that distinct intention of the person who directs, which is additional to the meaning of the verbal root and the meaning of the affix, and for which a conventional sign has been established.