Mr. Colebhoox'E on the Philosophy/ of the Hindus. 447 



" cular sense. It matters not whether the subject have been previously 



" apprehended (the words being intelligible, or the context rendering 



" them so). Precept is authoritative, independently of human communi- 



" cation."* 



Grammarians assume a special category, denominated sphdia, for the 

 object of mental perception, which ensues upon the hearing of an articulate 

 sound, and which they consider to be distinct from the elements or compo- 

 nent letters of the word. Logicians disallow that as a needless assumption.t 

 They insist, however, that " sound is an effect, because if is perceived as 

 " the result of effort ; because it endures not, but ceases so soon as uttered; 

 " because it is spoken of as made or done ; because it is at once apprehend- 

 " ed in divers places at the same instant, uttered by divers persons; because 

 " it is liable to permutation ; and because it is subject to increase of intensity 

 " with the multitude of utterers." To all which the answer is, that " the 

 " result of an effort is uniform, the same letters being articulated. Sound 

 " is unobserved though existent, if it reach not the object (vibrations of air 

 " emitted from the mouth of the speaker proceed and manifest sound by 

 " their appulse to air at rest in the space bounded by the hollow of the ear; 

 " for want of such appulse, sound, though existent, is unapprehended).^ 

 " Sound is not made or done, but is used : it is uttered, not called into 

 " existence. Its universality is as that of the sun (common to all). The 

 " permutation of letters is the substitution of a different one (as a semi- 

 " vowel for a vowel), not the alteration of the same letter. Noise, not 

 " sound, is increased by a multitude of voices. Sound is perpetual, intended 

 " for the apprehension of others : it is universal, a generic term being 

 " applicable to all individuals. Its perpetuity is intimated by a passage 

 " of the veda, which expresses 'Send forth praise, with perpetual 

 " speech."'§ 



The first chapter tenninates with an inquiry into the authority of the 

 veda, which is maintained to be primeval and superhuman ; although 

 different portions of it are denominated from names of men, as Cdfhaca, 

 Caufhwna, Paishpala, he, and although worldly incidents and occurrences 

 are mentioned. Those denominations of particular portions, it is affirmed, 

 have reference to the tradition by which a revelation has been trans- 



• Jnim. 1. 1.5. f Didh, Pari'h. and Madh. X Didh. § Jaim. 1. 1. 6. 1-18 and Com. 



Vol. I. 3 N 



