Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge c8.42

c8.42

(158) The Pāli term used to refer to the Sceptics, namely, *Amarāvikkhepikā*, seems to be a nickname and has probably been correctly translated as 'eel-wrigglers' (Prof. Rhys Davids, SBB., Vol. II, pp. 37 ff.). It is however a word whose meaning is obscure and the commentary offers two explanations of it. It is said that it may mean 'those who are confused by their endless beliefs and words'.¹ The alternative explanation is that amarā stands for a species of fish, who are in the habit of running about in the water, constantly emerging and diving down so that it is difficult to get hold of them and that similarly this theory (Scepticism) runs hither and thither without arriving at a definite conclusion.² The fact that the commentator gives two alternative explanations of the word shows that he himself was uncertain about its meaning. The latter is probably to be preferred since amarā as meaning endless (pariyantarahita-) is far-fetched. Vācāvikkhepa- is used as a synonym of amarāvikkhepa-,³ and probably means 'verbal jugglery' in view of the fact that these thinkers would have appeared in the eyes of their opponents to evade committing themselves with regard to the truth or falsity of a proposition. When Ajātasattu refers to the theory as just vikkhepam he probably means the same, i.e. 'jugglery' or 'confusion'.