Vedas - An Unbiased View (Part 26)

Madhva Siddhānta Debates on Eternity of Vedās

In this Part-26:

If opponents try to construct an inference as below, it is not right. Opponent is anyone who believes in the authorship of Vedās. Even Nyāyayikās or the logicians who believe in Vedās, still believe Vedās are authored.

The inference of opponent is like this.

"विमतं वेदावक्यं सकर्तृकं, वाक्यत्वात्, लौकिकवाक्यवत्। (vimataṃ vedāvakyaṃ sakartṛkaṃ, vākyatvāt, laukikavākyavat।)"

That is, if it is inferred that, "Vedic statements are authored, because they are in the form of vākhyās (sentences), similar to the worldly sentences", then it is not right. Worldly statements are made of sentences, however that cannot be applied to Vedic statements.

There is a defect named upādi in the above inference. That is, there is a limiting factor. When fire was inferred from smoke in previous episodes explaining Inference, it was based on an invariable connection between fire and smoke, that the smoke can never exist without fire. In this inference made by the opponent, limiting condition is, the absence of authorlessness which is popular (that is the essential presence of an author in case of wordly sentences).

In Vedic statements, authorlessness is popular and an established thing. Hence, the inference of opponent is not applicable to the Vedās and it fails.

Instead, a counter inference is established by Madhva Siddhānta as below.

"वेदवाक्यं अकर्तृकं, अकर्तृकत्व प्रसिद्धिमत्त्वात्, ईश्वरवत्। (vedavākyaṃ akartṛkaṃ, akartṛkatva prasiddhimattvāt, īśvaravat।)"

That is, "Vedic sentences are authorless, because it is popular as authorless, similar to God."

This inference cannot be objected because it is already established fact that Vedās are authorless. No author can be shown or proven by the opponents similar to worldly sentences.

God is eternal, space is eternal, souls are eternal etc which are already accepted facts. Likewise eternity can be very well inferred in Vedās.

God is not created. Scriptures say Vedās are always in the mind of God at all times. So, Vedās are also eternal like God. God Himself declares, He is not the author of Vedās but know the entire Vedās.

Hence, the opponent inference is proven defective and a counter inference is constructed to prove eternity of Vedās.