Verse 1.80

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of verse 1.80:

चक्षुषः प्राप्यकारित्वे तेजसा तु द्वयोरपि ।
विषयेन्द्रिययोरिष्टः संस्कारः स क्रमो ध्वनेः ॥ ८० ॥

cakṣuṣaḥ prāpyakāritve tejasā tu dvayorapi |
viṣayendriyayoriṣṭaḥ saṃskāraḥ sa kramo dhvaneḥ || 80 ||

80. According to the view that the visual sense reaches out to the object, it is held that both the object and the sense are perfected by light. Such is the process in the case of the (manifesting) sounds.

Commentary

One who is situated in the dark perceives an object like the jar, illuminated by light. According to those who believe that the sense of vision does not reach out to the object, it is the object which is mostly perfected. If the sense of vision reaches out, the rays of the eye are aided by light which is of the same kind.¹

Notes

1. There were several views about the sense of vision. Some held that it is nothing more than the physical eye-ball and, therefore, not of the nature of light. Others held that it consists of the eye-ball which, however, is of the nature of light. The Naiyāyikas held that it consists of visual light rays and, therefore, it is taijasa. Even here, there were two views: Some held that it does not reach out to the object before perceiving it, that it is aprāpyakāri. Others, however, held that it reaches out to the object (prāpyakāri) Vṛ describes the process as follows:—The sense of vision which consists of light rays goes out of the eye to the object and, on the way, mixes with the all-pervasive light atoms and engenders a beam of light very wide at the further end (pṛthvagram). This beam, on reaching the lighted spot where the object is, mixes with the external light, both being of the same kind. This is what is meant by the perfection of the sense of vision. The fact that the object is illuminated by the external light is its perfection. Thus there takes place perfection of both, according to this view.