Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 3.1.2, 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 2 (‘mark of supersensuous object’) contained in Chapter 1—Of the Marks of Inference—of Book III (of soul and mind).
Sūtra 3.1.2 (Mark of supersensuous object)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 3.1.2:
इन्द्रियार्थाप्रसिद्धिरिन्द्रियार्थेभ्योर्ऽथान्तरस्य हेतुः ॥ ३.१.२ ॥
indriyārthāprasiddhirindriyārthebhyor'thāntarasya hetuḥ || 3.1.2 ||
indriyārtha-prasiddhiḥ—the universal experience of the objects of the senses; indriyārthebhyaḥ—from the senses-and their object; arthāntarasya—of a different object; hetuḥ—mark.
2. The universal experience of the objects of the senses is the mark of (the existence of) object different from she senses and their objects.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
He explains the application of the universal (experience of the objects of the senses to the inquiry respecting the Soul.
[Read sūtra 3.1.2 above]
‘Hetuḥ,’ i.e., Mark, ‘Arthāntarasya,’ i, e.. of the Soul. ‘Indriyār-thebhyaḥ, i.e., from the senses as well as their objects. The meaning is that it is the mark of the Soul which is a different object from Colour.etc., as well as from those which possess them. Though it is implied here that only knowledge is the mark of the existence of the Soul, yet inasmuch as there being a universal experience of the objects of the senses, the immediate presentation to the mind of Colour, etc., is more commonly known, the mark of there being a Soul is described as constituted by that universal experience, blow this universal experience must reside somewhere, either as an effect as a water-pot, or as an Attribute, or as an Action. This universal experience, again, since it is an act in the same manner as cutting is an act, must be produced by an instrument. That which is the instrument of the universal experience is the senses; and the latter, being an instrument, must be employed by an agent, as an axe and the like, are employed. Thus, that in which this universal experience resides, and which employs the olfactory and other organs for its instruments, is the Soul.—2.