Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary

by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165

The Vaisheshika-sutra 2.1.6, 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 6 (‘objection to fluidity being a characteristic of water, answered’) contained in Chapter 1—Of Earth, Waters, Fire, Air, and Ether—of Book II (of substances).

Sūtra 2.1.6 (Objection to Fluidity being a characteristic of Water, answered)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 2.1.6:

सर्पिर्जतुमधूच्छिष्टानां अग्निसंयोगाद्द्रवत्वमद्भिः सामान्यम् ॥ २.१.६ ॥

sarpirjatumadhūcchiṣṭānāṃ agnisaṃyogāddravatvamadbhiḥ sāmānyam || 2.1.6 ||

sarpir-jjatu-madhūcchiṣṭānām—of clarified butter, lac; and wax. agni-saṃyogāt—through conjunction of Fire; dravatvam—Fluidity; adviḥ—with Waters; sāmānyam—similarity, Commonness.

6. The Fluidity of clarified butter, lac, and wax, through conjunction with Light is similar to that of Water.

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)

If it be argued that it is not correct to say that Fluidity is the characteristic of Water, because Fluidity is observed even in Earth; so he replies:

[Read sūtra 2.1.6 above]

The Fluidity which belongs to clarified butter, etc., results from conjunction of Fire which is its occasion, and is not constitutional; whereas constitutional Fluidity is the characteristic of Water. Therefore the similarity of Earth to Water is in respect of more Fluidity, and not in respect of constitutional Fluidity also. Hence the characteristic or the definition is not too wide. This is the meaning.—6.

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