Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 4.2.2, English translation, including commentaries such as the Upaskara of Shankara Mishra, the Vivriti of Jayanarayana-Tarkapanchanana and the Bhashya of Chandrakanta. The Vaisheshika Sutras teaches the science freedom (moksha-shastra) and the various aspects of the soul (eg., it's nature, suffering and rebirth under the law of karma). This is sutra 2 (‘body is not a compound of five elements’) contained in Chapter 2—Of Tangible Atomic Products—of Book IV (of the origin of bodies).
Sūtra 4.2.2 (Body is not a compound of five elements)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 4.2.2:
प्रत्यक्षाप्रत्यक्षाणां संयोगस्याप्रत्यक्षत्वात् पञ्चात्मकं न विद्यते ॥ ४.२.२ ॥
pratyakṣāpratyakṣāṇāṃ saṃyogasyāpratyakṣatvāt pañcātmakaṃ na vidyate || 4.2.2 ||
pratyakṣa-apratyakṣāṇām—of perceptible and non-per-ceptible objects; saṃyogasya—of conjunction; apratyakṣatvāt—on account of imperceptibility; pañcātmakam—Penta-substantial; Constituted by five elements. na—not; vidyate—exists.
2. (Nothing exists, which is constituted by five elements, or) the body is not constituted by five elements, for the conjunction of things, perceptible and imperceptible, is imperceptible.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
Now, in order to refute the assertion that the body is composed of three elements or four elements, he says:
[Read sūtra 4.2.2 above]
Were the body, by reason of its odour, moisture, digestive heat, breath, and porosity, composed of five elements, then it would be imperceptible. In the same manner as the conjunction of perceptible and imperceptible objects, e.g., air and trees, is imperceptible, the body also would be imperceptible. Thus the aphorism employs an example. The word ‘body’ is the complement of “penta-substantial does not exist.” Moisture, digestive heat, etc., however, belong to the efficient causes or conditions of the body, namely, water and fire. The theory that the body is composed of four elements should be also similarly understood. Let it then, it may be urged, contain three elements, as there is perception of three elements. This cannot be, for an origination not of heterogeneous elements is denied. One attribute in a whole made up of parts is not originative of similar other attributes. If, therefore, the production were from Earth and Water, then that which they originate would be void of smell and taste. In like manner, if it originated in Earth and Fire, it would not possess smell, colour, and taste; if in Earth and Air, it would be destitute of smell, taste, colour, and touch. Other cases should be similarly understood.—2.