Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary

by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165

The Vaisheshika-sutra 4.1.2, 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 existence of ultimate atoms’) contained in Chapter 1—Of Atoms—of Book IV (of the origin of bodies).

Sūtra 4.1.2 (Mark of existence of ultimate atoms)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 4.1.2:

तस्य कार्यं लिङ्गम् ॥ ४.१.२ ॥

tasya kāryaṃ liṅgam || 4.1.2 ||

tasya—its; Of the ultimate atom. kāryara—effect, Liṅgam, mark.

2. The effect is the mark (of the existence) of the ultimate atom.

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

After describing the Genus, eternal, he now says with reference to ultimate, atoms:

[Read sūtra 4.1.2 above]

‘Tasya,’ i.e., of the ultimate atom; ‘kārya,’ e.g., the water-pot and the like; ‘liṅga’ Accordingly the sūtra of Gautama. “From the evolved is the production of the evolved, on the evidence of (experience by) perception,” (Nyāya-sūtra IV. i. II). Now the interrelation of parts and wholes is perceived. If it were unlimited, there would be no difference in size of measurement between mount Meru and a grain of mustard seed; for, they would be without distinction, both being orginated by infinite parts. Nor can it be said that difference will be caused by the differences of the size of each part, and of the aggregation of parts; for, without a difference of number, these also would be impossible. If it be said that pralaya or destruction of the creation may be the limit (of the series of parts and wholes); (we reply that) the final something ex-hypothesi) having no parts, pralaya itself would be impossible, for it is only disjunction and destruction of parts which can destroy substances. Nor is disjunction the limit, for it is impossible for it to have only one substratum. Therefore, a substance without parts,, must be the limit, and this the ultimate atom. A mote is not the limit; for, being a visible substance, it possesses magnitude, and is composed of more substance than one; magnitude, as the cause of visual perception, presupposes, or is dependent upon, multiplicity of substance; else there would be no magnitude even, what then would be the cause? Nor are the constituent parts of the mote atoms, for we must infer that they also, as originative of a substance possessing magnitude, are composed of parts, like thread, and like potsherd. Therefore, whatever substance is an effect, is composed of parts, and whatever substance is composed of parts, is an effect. So that from whichever part the nature of being an effect goes away, from it goes away also the nature of being made up of parts. This is the proof of the existence of indivisible ultimate atoms. So it has been said by Professor Praśastadeva, “Earth is twofold, eternal and non-eternal.—2.

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