Verse 11

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

शक्तीनां नियमादेषां नैवमित्यप्यनुत्तरं ।
शक्यमेव यतः कार्यं शक्ताः कुर्वन्ति हेतवः ॥ ११ ॥

śaktīnāṃ niyamādeṣāṃ naivamityapyanuttaraṃ |
śakyameva yataḥ kāryaṃ śaktāḥ kurvanti hetavaḥ || 11 ||

“Because the potencies of these things are restricted in their scope, therefore it is not as has been urged; hence it does not answer our argument. because potent causes produce only such effect as is amenable to their potency.”—(11)

 

Kamalaśīla’s commentary (tattvasaṃgrahapañjikā):

The following might be urged (against the Sāṃkhya view):—“The potency of Causes is such as is restricted to specific Effects; hence, even though the Effect has been non-existent, yet it is only some one effect, an actual Product, that is produced,—and not an absolute non-entity, like the Sky-lotus; this is the reason why only a specific cause is secured (for the production of a particular effect), that one which is efficient for the purpose, not anything at random; so that particular effects are produced from particular causes, and not every effect from every cause”.

Having this objection in view, the Sāṃkhya, under the pretext of answering it, puts forward the following arguments in support of the fourth reason set forth [in the Sāṃkhyakārikā, 9: ‘Because the efficient can do that only for which it is efficient’].

Of these things,—i.e. of things that are held to be causes.—It is not as has been urged;—i.e. the objection urged does not affect the Sāṃkhya position; hence it is not a suitable answer to our argument made by the Bauddha and others,—Why?—Because even potent Causes, when producing their effects, produce only such effects as are amenable to their action, and not what is not so amenable.—(11)