140. 160 CHAPTER 1İ1

160 CHAPTER 1İ1

The elimination of the given objective time relation is recognised by the Mimamsakas also. Abhinavagupta himself refers to this view in the course of explanation of the process of universalisation. The Mimamsaka1 admits that from such statements as "Tam agnau pradat" and "Rātrim asata", the hearer, with a certain attitude and inclination, has finally an experience, from which the time, given in the statements, is eliminated. The final form of hearer's consciousness, has no reference to the past time indicated by the words "Asata" or "Pradat". On the contrary, it is the present time that figures in his consciousness, as is indicated by the expression "Pradadami", in which the final form of consciousness, aroused by the said statement, is expressed. It is not only the elimination of the given time element, which the Mimamsaka admits : he admits the elimination of person also that may be given in a statement. For instance, in the above statements it is the third person that is given. But in the final experience of the hearer, with requisite attitude and inclination, it is elimi- nated, it is substituted by the first person as indicated by the words "ase" and "Pradadami". Abhinavagupta, therefore, holds that the elimination and substitution of the given objective elements is not a peculiar doctrine of the Abhasavada. It is admitted by other systems also. Therefore, just as, according to the Mīmām- saka, the experience of the hearer is different in form from that which is presented in a statement, which stimulates it, as in the case of "Tam agnau pradat", so from a poetic statement also there arises in the hearer, with æsthetic attitude, an experience, which is characterised by elimina- tion of temporal and other elements and substitution of some and addition of others. 1. A. Bh., Vol. I., 280.