Sūtra 5.2.14 (Cause of action of mind)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 5.2.14:

हस्तकर्मणा मनसः कर्म व्याख्यातम् ॥ ५.२.१४ ॥

hastakarmaṇā manasaḥ karma vyākhyātam || 5.2.14 ||

hasta-karmaṇā—by the action of the hand; Manasaḥ of mind or the internal organ. karma—action; vyākhyātam—explained.

14. The action of mind is explained by the action of the hand.

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

With reference to non-initial action, he says:

[Read sūtra 5.2.14 above]

As in the throwing upward, etc., of the pestle, the action of the hand has for its non-combinative cause conjunction with soul exercising volition, so the action of the mind also, for the purpose of coming into contact with the (external) sense receptive of the object desired, really has for its non-combinative cause conjunction with soul exercising volition. Although mind, the sense, is not directly subject to volition, still it should be observed that action is produced in mind by volition which can be reached by the nervous process by which mind travels. That the nervous process can be apprehended by the tactual sense-organ, however, must be admitted; for, otherwise, assimilation of food, drink, etc., also will not be possible by volition which can be reached by the nervous process through which life or the vital energy travels.—14.