Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 3.2.7, 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 7 (‘analogy does not prove soul as such’) contained in Chapter 2—Of the Inference of Soul and Mind—of Book III (of soul and mind).
Sūtra 3.2.7 (Analogy does not prove Soul as such)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 3.2.7:
सामान्यतो दृष्टाच्चाविशेषः ॥ ३.२.७ ॥
sāmānyato dṛṣṭāccāviśeṣaḥ || 3.2.7 ||
sāmānyato-dṛṣṭāt—from a commonly-observed or analogous mark; ca—and; aviśeṣaḥ—non-particular; Not a thing in particular or as such.
7. And from a commonly-observed mark (there is) no (inference of anything in) particuiar.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
Lest it might be urged, “Although no visible mark exists, the universal relation of which has been observed by perception, yet a sāmānyatodṛṣṭa, or commonly-observed or analogous mark, will be the mark, for it is not that there can be no inference from that,” therefore the objector says:
[Read sūtra 3.2.7 above]
A commonly-observed mark also becomes a mark of inference. But it does not prove the Soul as Soul, nor as a Substance over and above the eight Substances. It would only prove that desire, etc., must be resident somewhere. And this does not suggest the thought of a Soul. This is the meaning. Therefore it is stated, “Not a thing in particular.”—7.