Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 2.2.9, 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 9 (‘time, a cause of non-eternal substances’) contained in Chapter 2—Of the Five Bhutas, Time, and Space—of Book II (of substances).
Sūtra 2.2.9 (Time, a cause of non-eternal Substances)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 2.2.9:
नित्योष्वभावादनित्येषु भावात् कारणे कालाख्येति ॥ २.२.९ ॥
nityoṣvabhāvādanityeṣu bhāvāt kāraṇe kālākhyeti || 2.2.9 ||
nityeṣu—in eternal Substances; abhāvāt—because it does not exist; anityeṣu—in non-eternal Substances; bhāvāt—Because it exists; kāraṇe—in the cause; kālākhyā—the name of Time; iti—hence.
9. The name Time is applicable to a cause, inasmuch as it does not exist in eternal substances and exists in non-eternal substances.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
Here he says that Time is the cause of all that is produced.
[Read sūtra 2.2.9 above]
The word ‘iti’ is used in the sense of ‘because.’ For this reason the name Time is applicable to ‘cause,’ i.e., the cause of all that is produced. He states the reason:—“Because it doos not exist in eternals, and because it exists in non-eternals.” The moaning is this: Because in the caso of the eternals such as Ether, etc., there do not arise the cognition, “produced simultaneously,” “produced slowly or late,” “produced quickly or early,” “produced now,” “produced during the day,” “produced at night,” etc., whereas cognitions of simultaneity, etc., do arise in the ease of the non-eternals such as the pot, cloth, etc.; therefore, by the methods of agreement as well as difference, Timo is proved to be a cause. It is to be understood that Timo is the occasional or efficient cause of all that is produced, not only in virtue of the cognitions of simultaneity, etc., but also in virtue of the application, of the terms, hibernal, vernal, pluvial, etc., to flowers, fruits, etc.
Commentary: The Vivṛti of Jayanārāyaṇa:
(English extracts of Jayanārāyaṇa Tarkapañcānana’s Vivṛti or ‘gloss’ called the Kaṇādasūtravivṛti from the 17th century)
In fact, scriptural texts such as “All is produced from Time,” etc., are proof that Time is the cause of every thing that is an effect.