Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 1.1.21, 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 1 (‘difference between substance and action’) contained in Chapter 1—Of Substance, Attribute, and Action—of Book I (of the predicables).
Sūtra 1.1.21 (Difference between Substance and Action)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 1.1.21:
न द्रव्याणां कर्म ॥ १.१.२१ ॥
na dravyāṇāṃ karma || 1.1.21 ||
na—not; dravyāṇām—Of Substances; karma—Action.
21. Action is not the cause of Substances.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
But it may be argued that originative Conjunction having been brought about by substance possessed of Action; the substance which is originated thereby, is surely produced by Action since Action has been its antecedent as a rule. Hence he says:—[Read sūtra 1.1.21 above]
The meaning is that Action is not the cause of substances.—21.