Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 4.2.4, 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 4 (‘conjunction of various atoms, not denied’) contained in Chapter 2—Of Tangible Atomic Products—of Book IV (of the origin of bodies).
Sūtra 4.2.4 (Conjunction of various atoms, not denied)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 4.2.4:
अणुसंयोगस्त्वप्रतिषिद्धः ॥ ४.२.४ ॥
aṇusaṃyogastvapratiṣiddhaḥ || 4.2.4 ||
aṇusaṃyogaḥ—conjunction of atoms; tu—but; apratiṣiddhaḥ—not denied.
4. But a conjunction of atoms is not denied.—173.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
How then is there perception of digestive heat, etc., in one single body? He gives the answer:
[Read sūtra 4.2.4 above]
A mutual conjunction of the five elements as (the basis or) conditional causes of oue another, is not denied. But it is not desired that the conjunction of two heterogeneous atoms can be the non-combinative cause of a substance. Thus, as its conditional or efficient causes, digestive heat, etc., are perceived in the body. If it be asked, then, of what nature the human body is, the answer is given by the aphorism of Gautama:—“(The body is) terrene, the distinctive attribute of Ether being perceived (in it).” Nyāya-Sūtra III. i. 28(?) ). Smell which is the distinctive attribute of Earth, is observed in the human body as not departing from it till its dissolution, whereas digestive heat, etc., are not observed in the decayed body. These attributes, therefore, are accidental, while Smell is essential. Hence its terreneness is established.—4.