Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary

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

The Vaisheshika-sutra 5.2.1, 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 1 (‘causes of action in earth’) contained in Chapter 2—Of Non-volitional Action—of Book V (of investigation of action).

Sūtra 5.2.1 (Causes of action in Earth)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 5.2.1:

नोदनाभिघातात् संयुक्तसंयोगाच्च पृथिव्यां कर्म ॥ ५.२.१ ॥

nodanābhighātāt saṃyuktasaṃyogācca pṛthivyāṃ karma || 5.2.1 ||

nodana-abhighātāt—from molecular movement or impulse, and from impact; saṃyukta-saṃyogāt—from conjunction with the conjunct; ca—and; pṛthivyām—in Earth, Karma, action.

1. Action in Earth (results) from impulse, impact, and conjunction with the conjunct.

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

This is the section on the examination of Action producible by impulse, etc., Therein he says:

[Read sūtra 5.2.1 above]

“nodana” is a particular form of conjunction: conjunction, action produced by which does not become the cause of the disjunction of conjoint things from each other; or, conjunction which does not become the efficient cause of Sound. That particular form of conjunction is called impact, which becomes the efficient cause of Sound, and action produced by which becomes the cause of disjunction of conjoint things from each other. By each of them also action is produced in. Earth called clay. In Earth action is produced from impulse given by the foot, as well as from the impact of the foot. Here clay is the combinative cause; impulse and impact are respectively non-combinative causes; gravity, impetus, and volition are, so far as they are necessary, efficient causes. “From conjunction with the conjunct:” Because action is simultaneously observed in a water-pot, etc., lying on day, when action is produced in that clay from impulse or from impact.—1.

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