न सामान्यादपि, उपलब्धेः, मृत्युवत्, नहि लोकापत्तिः ॥ ५१ ॥
na sāmānyādapi, upalabdheḥ, mṛtyuvat, nahi lokāpattiḥ || 51 ||
na—Not; sāmānyāt-api—in spite of the resemblance; upalabdheḥ—for it is seen; mṛtyuvat—as in the case of death; na hi lokāpattiḥ—for the world does not become (fire because of certain resemblances).
51. In spite of the resemblance (of the fires to the imaginary drink, they do) not (form part of the sacrificial act), for it is seen (from the reasons adduced that they constitute an independent Vidya); (the mental affair here is) as in the case of death, for the world does not become (fire because of certain resemblances).
This Sutra refutes the argument of the opponent given in Sutra 45. The resemblance cited by the opponent there cannot stand, for on account of the reasons already adduced, viz. the Sruti, indicatory mark, etc., the fires in question subserve the purpose of man only, and not any sacrifice. Mere resemblance cannot justify the opposite view. Anything can resemble anything in certain respects; still the things are different. The resemblance cited is like the common epithet ‘death’ applied to fire and the being in the sun. “The being in that orb is death indeed” (Sat. Br, 10. 5. 2. 8). “Fire is death” (Brih. 3. 2. 10). This resemblance cannot make fire and the being in the sun one. Again we have: “This world is a fire indeed, O Gocama, the sun its fuel” etc, (Chh. 5. 4. 1) Here from the similarity of fuel and so on the earth does not actually become fire.