Sūtra 3.2.16 (Above answered)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 3.2.16:

सन्दिग्धस्तूपचारः ॥ ३.२.१६ ॥

sandigdhastūpacāraḥ || 3.2.16 ||

sandigdhaḥ—doubtful; tu—but; upacāraḥ—transference.

16. The transference, (as characterised by you), however, is doubtful.

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

He gives the solution:

[Read sūtra 3.2.16 above]

The word ‘tu’ here points out the solution (of the foregoing objection). The meaning is that there is doubt even in what has been said (by you, i.e., the opponent), namely that the transference is a fancied one, whereas the intuition of ‘I’ is in respect of the body itself. Since, therefore, the intuition is a false witness on either side, we must endeavour to find out a distinction. Since on making this endeavour, we observe that even a man, whose eyes have been closed, still has the intuition of ‘I,’ we must hold that it refers to an object different from the body, and beyond the cognizance of the external senses If it referred to the body, it would refer to the bodies of others, and also would not take place in independence of the eyes. If it be asked how there can be such common measure or co-extension as in “I who am stout or thin, am happy we reply that in this case it is possible that the body would appear as the condition of pleasure, etc., as in “This forest is resonant with the roar of a lion” (there is such appearance). Mere I-ness, presented by the Mind, is superimposed upon the body, just as heat, presented by the organ of touch, in the judgments, “The water is hot,” “The body is hot,” etc.—16.