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48
NAYA-KARNIKA.
the past because of its having ended, nor the future because of its having not arisen, but solely deals with the present and natural aspect of a thing because that alone is káryakûrin, i.e., useful for the moment.
Argument as to the characteristics of the Straight Expression standpoint.
अतीतेनानागतेन परस्कीयेन वस्तुना ।
न कार्यसिद्धिरित्येतद्सद्गगनपद्मवत् ॥ १२ ॥
[अतीतेन with the past ; अनागतेन with tho future ; परकीयेन with non-natural ; वस्तुना with a thing ; न not; कार्यसिद्धिः the serving of purpose; fa becausc; this; wrong, false ; गगनपद्मयत् like a sky-lotus.]
Neither the past, nor the future, nor the non-natural qualities serve any purpose. They are false; [they are like] a sky-lotus (non-entity.) -12.
Explanation. The argument underlying the rijusútra view point is that of immediate utility which naturally must be grounded upon the present aspect of a thing. For instance, it is of no use to a beggar in his present life if his son of a previous birth, or the would-be daughter-in-law of a future incarnation, i. e., re-birth, happens to be a ruling prince. In the same way, qualities not belonging to a thing would stand it in no good stead in the immediate concerns of life.
