तस्माद्दृष्टान्तदार्ष्टान्तविकल्पोल्लसितैरलम् । यया कयाचिद्युक्त्या तु महावाक्यार्थमाश्रयेत् ॥ ३ ॥
tasmāddṛṣṭāntadārṣṭāntavikalpōllasitairalam | yayā kayācidyuktyā tu mahāvākyārthamāśrayēt || 3 ||
Translation
Therefore enough of the doubts that spring up over illustration and the thing illustrated. By whatever reasoning it may be, one should take hold of the meaning of the great saying.
Word by word
- tasmād
- therefore
- dṛṣṭānta
- over illustration
- dārṣṭānta
- and the thing illustrated
- vikalpa
- the doubts
- ullasitair
- (ullasitaiḥ) that spring up
- alam
- enough of
- yayā
- by which
- kayācid
- ever
- yuktyā
- reasoning
- tu
- indeed
- mahāvākya
- of the great saying
- artham
- the meaning
- āśrayēt
- one should take hold of
Meaning
The commentary names the doubts: is this illustration like the thing in all its features, or only in some, and does the difference spoil it? Such questions lead nowhere. The point is to reach the meaning of the great saying, and any reasoning that helps one grasp the words, what they point to, and what they intend is good enough. A ladder is judged by whether it reaches the roof, not by the grain of its wood.