Indian Philosophy v2.c25.s2.67

v2.c25.s2.67

Words denote classes and not individuals. When we say " bring a cow," we do not mean a particular cow, but any animal possessing the features of a cow. The word denotes the class or form, since it has action for its object.³ If individuals are denoted by words, a generic idea like " cow " would be impossible. Again, a word cannot denote all the individuals, since then it would possess as many potencies as there are individuals. It cannot denote a collection of individuals, since then it would be undergoing changes, as some individuals die out and others get in. Again, if the word means a single individual only, there cannot be an eternal connection between word and meaning, and action would be impossible, as it would be difficult to decide which individual is meant. If individuals are objects denoted, then since they are not omnipresent, there cannot be a relation between a word and its meaning. Ākṛti is eternal, and is therefore capable of relationship with the eternal word. While words and their significations are eternal, there is a chance of our having mistaken notions of both, and human utterances may turn out erroneous, while there is no such possibility with regard to Vedic utterances.