Essay name: Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra (study)
Author:
Nimisha Sarma
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Tarkabhasa of Kesava Misra: a significant work of the syncretic Nyaya-Vaisesika school of Indian philosophy widely used as a beginner's textbook in southern India and has many commentaries. This study includes an extensive overview of the Nyaya and Vaisesika philosophy, epistemology and sources of valid knowledge. It further deals with the contents and commentaries of the Tarkabhasa.
Chapter 2 - A note on Tarkabhasa
17 (of 20)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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46
enumerated in Gautama's NS." Of these twelve the Self is that which has the
universal selfhood. This self is different from body and the sense organs. It is
distinct from the body, sense organs etc. and also different in each body. It is
eternal and omnipresent. It is an object of mental perception.
Then he defines body and sense organs. While mentioning objects he
said that objects are the six categories. Those are substance, quality, action,
generality, speciality and inherence. All these six are positive categories. He
also describes Negation, which is cognized in the form of non-existence.
Nine substances are described here following Vaise峁kas. They are
earth, water, light, air, ether, time, space, soul and mind. Kesava Misra defines
all these separately. Then he describes the process of production and
destruction of the four producible substances beginning with earth. After that
he explains the evidence for accepting atoms. Kesava Misra said that the dyad
is made up of two atoms when they are in contact with each other. A triad
however is composed of three dyads. In this way, gradually gross earth, water,
fire and air are created. Then Kesava Misra explains the rest five substances
i.e. ether, time, space, soul and mind.
When Kesava Misra proceeds to the second category i.e. quality, he
describes twenty four numbers of qualities as accepted by other Naiyayikas.
Then he explains five types of action, then generality, particularity and
inherence. After describing the six positive categories he comes to the seventh
31.
'腻迟尘腻艣补谤颈谤别苍诲谤颈测腻谤迟丑补产耻诲诲丑颈尘补苍补岣�
prab峁泃tido峁pretyabh膩vaphaladu岣h膩pavarg膩stu prameyam' N.S.
1.1.9.
