Verse 1.18 - There is only impression

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 1.18:

व्यञ्जनस्यावग्रहः ॥ १.१८ ॥

vyañjanasyāvagrahaḥ || 1.18 ||

There is only impression (avagraha) of indistinct things–vyañjana. (18)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [व्यञ्जनस्य] व्यञ्जन (अप्रगटरूप शब्दादि पदार्थों) का [अवग्रहः] मात्र अवग्रह ज्ञान होता है, ईहादि तीन ज्ञान नहीं होते।

Anvayartha: [vyanjanasya] vyanjana (apragatarupa shabdadi padarthom) ka [avagrahah] matra avagraha jnana hota hai, ihadi tina jnana nahim hote |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

Do impression (avagraha), etc., occur in case of all the senses and the mind? Or is there any difference?

Collection of indistinct sounds, etc., is ‘vyañjana’. In case of these, there is impression (avagraha) only. What is the purpose of this sūtra? It is for determination that there is impression (avagraha) only of ‘vyañjana’ and not inquisitiveness (īhā), etc. If so, the word ‘only’ should have appeared in the sūtra. No, it is not necessary. If once certain activity has been established, its repetition makes it a rule or makes it a certainty. Hence, without the use of the word ‘only’ in the sūtra, it establishes the rule.

Now impression (avagraha) has been mentioned in both cases, ‘artha’ and ‘vyañjana’. Then what is the difference between the two? The difference is that while arthāvagraha is distinct impression, vyañjanāvagraha is indistinct impression. How? It is akin to the wetting of a new earthenware. The new earthenware does not get wet by two or three drops of water. But when moistened repeatedly, it gets wet. Similarly, the matter in the modes of sound, and so on, does not become distinct in the first two or three instants. But when apprehended repeatedly, it becomes distinct. Therefore, there is indistinct impression prior to distinct impression. Distinct impression is arthāvagraha. And, inquisitiveness (īhā), etc., do not arise from indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha).