Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 2.2.5, 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 5 (‘coldness is essential in water’) contained in Chapter 2—Of the Five Bhutas, Time, and Space—of Book II (of substances).
Sūtra 2.2.5 (Coldness is essential in Water)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 2.2.5:
अप्सु शीतता ॥ २.२.५ ॥
apsu śītatā || 2.2.5 ||
apsu—in Waters; śītatā—Coldness.
5. Coldness (is the characteristic) of Water.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
He examines the characteristic of Water:
[Read sūtra 2.2.5 above]
The meaning is that natural or essential coldness is the characteristic of water; so that it is not too wide, by over-extending to a stone tablet, sandal-wood, etc. Colour and Taste also are said to be the characteristics of Water in the same way as coldness which also implies Viscidity and constitutional Fluidity.
It cannot be asked, “Why is there this breach in the order of the characteristics according to the enumeration of Earth, etc?” Because it is intended to indicate that the Touch of Fire overcomes or overwhelms the Touch of Earth and the Touch of Water, and so the examination of Fire should of course come in between them. Or, the order has not been observed in order to introduce the examination of Air. Thus it should be inferred that Touch, which is neither hot nor cold and is not due to be the action of lire or heat, is essential to Air, and, as such, is its characteristic. This is the import.—5.
Commentary: The Vivṛti of Jayanārāyaṇa:
(English extracts of Jayanārāyaṇa Tarkapañcānana’s Vivṛti or ‘gloss’ called the Kaṇādasūtravivṛti from the 17th century)
The order of enumeration has been abandoned with the object of indicating that the mark of Air, i.e., the possession of a heterogeneous Touch, should be investigated in the same way. The explanation, given by the learned writer of the Upaskāra, namely that the violation of the order is intended to show that the Touch of Fire overcomes the Touches of Earth and Water, is not satisfactory. For it is known to all that in gold as well as in moon-light, etc., the Touches of Earth and Water overcome the Touch of Fire.