Nāgārjuna on Absence and its Effect

Reading Nāgārjuna’s “Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way” #12

I would like to continue my commentary on Nāgārjuna’s Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way. As a reminder, you can find the previous posts here: Articles on Nāgārjuna.

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Sanskrit

athāsad api tat tebhyaḥ pratyayebhyaḥ pravartate |
apratyayebhyo ’pi kasmān nābhipravartate phalam ||

Chinese (by Kumārajīva)

若謂緣無果 而從緣中出
是果何不從 非緣中而出

English (my tentative translation from the Sanskrit)

Then, even if it is non-existent, that (effect) arises from those conditions. Why does the effect not arise from the absence of conditions?