A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, so far as it illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans c8.32

c8.32

There must be something very tempting in this line of argument, for we see that in later times the Buddhists also endeavoured to claim the same divine character for their sacred writings which the Brahmans had established for the Veda. A curious instance of this is given in the following discussion, from Kumârila's Tantra-vârttika. Here the opponent (pûrva-paksha) observes, that the same arguments which prove that the Veda is not the work of human authors, apply with equal force to Śâkya's teaching. His authority, he says, cannot be questioned, because his precepts are clear and intelligible; and as Śâkya is not the inventor, but only the teacher of these precepts, and no name of an author is given for Śâkya's doctrines, the frailties inherent in human authors affect them as little as the Veda.¹ Everything, in fact, he concludes, which has been brought forward by the Mîmânsakas to prove the authority of the Veda, proves in the same way the authority of Buddha's doctrine. Upon this, the orthodox Kumârila grows very wroth, and says: "These Śâkyas, Vaiśeshikas, and other heretics, who have been frightened out of their wits by the faithful Mîmânsakas, prattle away with our own words as if trying to lay hold of a shadow. They say that their sacred works are eternal; but they are of empty minds, and only out of hatred they wish to deny that the Veda is the most ancient book.