Sūtra 3.1.9 (Marks of inference)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 3.1.9:

संयोगि समवाय्येकार्थसमवायि विरोधि च ॥ ३.१.९ ॥

saṃyogi samavāyyekārthasamavāyi virodhi ca || 3.1.9 ||

saṃyogi—the conjunct; samavāyi—the combined or inherent; ekārthasamavāyi—the combined together in one thing, or co-inherent; virodhi—the contradictory.

9. The conjunct, the combined, the con-combined, and the contradictory also (are marks of inference).

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

Now, in order to make it clear that universal concomitance or inseparable existence may be found elsewhere than in the cases of identity and causation, he says:

[Read sūtra 3.1.9 above]

“The body has skin, because it is the body”—here the mark is the conjunct or the contiguous. For skin is described as a natural integument of matter capable of growth and decay. And it is neither an effect nor a cause of the body, but merely produced together with the body and in invariable conjunction with it. Similarly, the combined is also a mark. For instance, “Ether possesses Magnitude or extension, because it is a Substance, like a water-pot, etc.”; here Magnitude or extension which is to be proved is proved by the property of Substance-ness which is in essential combination with Ether. Or, to take another example. The extension of an atom, a particular form or limit of extension or Magnitude is proved by this that the relativity or degree of extension or Magnitude must somewhere cease; whereby the ultimate atom is inferred as that in which the limit of extension rests.

The inference of Ether by Sound, etc., and the inference of the Soul by knowledge, etc., are inferences of the cause by the effect; so that they are not instanced here.—9.