Sūtra 5.1.7 (Falling how produced)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 5.1.7:

संयोगाभावे गुरुत्वात् पतनम् ॥ ५.१.७ ॥

saṃyogābhāve gurutvāt patanam || 5.1.7 ||

saṃyoga-abhāve—in the absence of conjunction; gurutvāt—from gravity; patanam—falling.

7. In the absence of conjunction, falling (results) from gravity.

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

He begins the section on action, independent of volition:

[Read sūtra 5.1.7 above]

By the term, ‘conjunction,’ every kind of impediment is indicated. Hence in the absence of impediments, in consequence of gravity as its non-combinative cause, falling i.e., an action resulting in conjuncticn below, is produced. Here in fruit, etc., possessing gravity, the impediment is conjunction; in a bird, etc., however, volition to hold up is the impediment to falling; in an arrow, etc., when discharged, it is the reaction that is the impediment to falling. The meaning is that, in the absence of these, falling is caused by gravity. In the case of holding up of poison, etc., in the air, by thought-transference, etc., conjunction with the soul endowed with adṛṣṭa (invisible after-effects of previous acts), or mantra, and the like are really the impediments. These also are included by the term ‘conjunction.’—7.

Commentary: The Bhāṣya of Candrakānta:

(English translation of Candrakānta Tarkālaṅkāra’s Bhāṣya called the Vaiśeṣikabhāṣya from the 19th century)

Candrakānta reads Saṃskāra in the place of Saṃyoga.