Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 4.2.8, 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 8 (‘proof of their existence’) contained in Chapter 2—Of Tangible Atomic Products—of Book IV (of the origin of bodies).
Sūtra 4.2.8 (Proof of their existence)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 4.2.8:
समाख्याभावाच्च ॥ ४.२.८ ॥
samākhyābhāvācca || 4.2.8 ||
samākhyā-bhāvāt—because name or definitions exist; ca—also.
8. Also because names or definitions exist.—177.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
He gives another proof that the bodies of gods and sages are a-sexual:
[Read sūtra 4.2.8 above]
Samākhyā means a significant name, or definition, such as is well-known in Śruti, Itihāsa, Purāṇa, etc. Thus, Durvāsas, and other sages were born from the mind (of Brahmā); Aṅgiras was produced from ahaṃkāra (the sense of “I”); and so on. From this also it is known that there are a-sexual bodies of gods and sages.—8.
Commentary: The Vivṛti of Jayanārāyaṇa:
(English extracts of Jayanārāyaṇa Tarkapañcānana’s Vivṛti or ‘gloss’ called the Kaṇādasūtravivṛti from the 17th century)
But whence do a-sexual bodies derive their names, in the absence of parents, etc.? For it is observed on earth that the names Caitra, Maitra, etc., are affixed by parents, etc. Lest there be such an apprehension, so he says:
‘Bhāvāt,’ i.e., from the existence, of ‘Samākhyā,’ i.e., the name; ‘even in the absence of the procreative parents, etc.’ is the complement. For, all names are not affixed only by parents, etc., as it is not the case with the names, water-pot, canvas, etc. Therefore, the import is that the names, Manu, Marici, etc., have been put upon a-sexual bodies, by the very same Īśvara by whom names have been affixed to the water-pot, canvas, and other unconscious objects.