Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 5.2.19, 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 9 (‘darkness is non-existence’) contained in Chapter 2—Of Non-volitional Action—of Book V (of investigation of action).
Sūtra 5.2.19 (Darkness is non-existence)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 5.2.19:
द्रव्यगुणकर्मनिष्पत्तिवैधर्म्यादभावस्तमः ॥ ५.२.१९ ॥
dravyaguṇakarmaniṣpattivaidharmyādabhāvastamaḥ || 5.2.19 ||
dravya-guṇa-karma-niṣpatti-vaidharmyāt—because of difference in production from Substance, Attribute, and Action; abhāvaḥ—non-being, non-existence; tamaḥ—darkness.
19. Darkness is non-existence, because it is different in its production from Substance, Attribute, and Action.
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
It may be objected:—The action of a substance is observed also in darkness, there being the perception, “The shadow moves.” Here there is no volition, no impulse or impact, no gravity or fluidity, no resultant energy. Therefore, another efficient cause should be enumerated; but it does not fall within observation. Accordingly he says:
[Read sūtra 5.2.19 above]
By this aphorism, the determination or delimitation that substances are nice only, also becomes established.
Now, the production of substance is dependent upon substances possessing touch; but in darkness, touch is not felt. It cannot be that touch is only undeveloped here, for development of touch is essential to development of colour.
Objection.—This is the rule in case of Earth, whereas darkness is the tenth substance.
Answer.—It is not. For no other substance is substratum of blue colour, and gravity is inseparable from blue colour, as also are taste and smell.
Objection.—As sound is the only distinguishing attribute of Ether, so also will blue colour be the only distinguishing attribute of darkness.
Answer.—It is not so, as there is contradiction to its visibility. For, if darkness were something possessing blue colour, or were it blue colour itself, then it would not be perceived by the eye without the help of external light.—19.