Verse 1.15 - The four stages of sensory knowledge

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 1.15:

अवग्रहेहावायधारणाः ॥ १.१५ ॥

avagrahehāvāyadhāraṇāḥ || 1.15 ||

Impression–avagraha, inquisitiveness–īhā, comprehension–avāya, and retention–dhāraṇā, are the four stages [of sensory knowledge (matijñāna)]. (15)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [अवग्रह ईहा अवाय धारणाः] अवग्रह, ईहा, अवाय, और धारणा यह चार भेद हैं।

Anvayartha: [avagraha iha avaya dharanah] avagraha, iha, avaya, aura dharana yaha cara bheda haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The cause of sensory knowledge has been understood. Its stages are mentioned in this sūtra.

The first awareness or adoption of an object as it comes in the range of the senses is impression (avagraha), the first stage of sensory knowledge (matijñāna). When there is the meeting of the sense-organ and the object, it is first perceived; that is darśana. The awareness of the object immediately following it is avagraha. For instance, on seeing an object, the impression that it is white in colour is avagraha. The desire to know particulars regarding the object apprehended through avagraha is inquisitiveness (īhā). Thus, the desire to know more–‘Is that white object a crane or a flag?’–is inquisitiveness (īhā). Knowing the object, as it is, after ascertaining its particulars is the next stage–comprehension (avāya). By its movement up and down and by the flapping of the wings, it is ascertained that it is a crane only and not a flag. Retention (dhāraṇā) is the cause of not forgetting in the future what was ascertained in the past. For instance, ‘This is the same crane which I saw this morning,’ is retention. These are mentioned in the sūtra in the order in which they arise.

The subdivisions of these are given next.

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