Sūtra 8.1.4 (Substance is the cause of cognition of Attributes and Actions)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 8.1.4:

गुणकर्मसु सन्निकृष्टेषु ज्ञाननिष्पत्तेः द्रव्यं कारणम् ॥ ८.१.४ ॥

guṇakarmasu sannikṛṣṭeṣu jñānaniṣpatteḥ dravyaṃ kāraṇam || 8.1.4 ||

guṇa-karmasu—Attributes and Actions; sannikṛṣṭeṣu—being in contact; jñāna-niṣpatteḥ—of the production of cognition; dravyaṃ—substance; kāraṇaṃ—cause.

4. Substance is the cause of the production of cognition, where Attributes and Actions are in contact (with the senses).

Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:

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

Ho describes the mode of production (of cognition):

[Read sūtra 8.1.4 above]

Substance is the cause of the cognition which is produced in respect of attributes, e.g., colour, etc., and in respect of actions, e.g., throwing upwards, etc., Both of them are apprehended only in so far as they inhere in substances appropriate or perceptible to the senses. Hence it is the appropriateness or perceptibility of the substances which determines their perceptibility. It is by substance, moreover, that their contact with the senses is constituted, they being apprehended by means of their combination with the conjunct (i.e., Substance which is conjunct with the sense). Although there is apprehended the odour of dispersed particles of campaka flower, and of portions of camphor, which are all imperceptible, yet it is substance, imperceptible though it be, which effects their contacts. Although perceptibility of substance is not a requisite in the apprehension of sound, yet sound is apprehended only as it is combined or inherent, therein and hence this itself is the requisite. If it be asked, why is made this supposition of contact which is invisible? we reply that the production of cognition, being an effect, necessitates the supposition of a cause. This is the import.—4.