Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
by Vijay K. Jain | 2018 | 130,587 words | ISBN-10: 8193272625 | ISBN-13: 9788193272626
This page describes indistinct impression (vyanjanavagraha) which is verse 1.19 of the English translation of the Tattvartha Sutra which represents the essentials of Jainism and Jain dharma and deals with the basics on Karma, Cosmology, Ethics, Celestial beings and Liberation. The Tattvarthasutra is authorative among both Digambara and Shvetambara. This is verse 19 of the chapter Right Faith and Knowledge and includes an extensive commentary.
Verse 1.19 - Indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 1.19:
न चक्षुरनिन्द्रियाभ्याम् ॥ १.१९ ॥
na cakṣuranindriyābhyām || 1.19 ||
Indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha) does not arise in case of the eyes (cakṣu) and the mind (anindriya, mana). (19)
Hindi Anvayarth:
अन्वयार्थ: व्यञ्जनावग्रह [चक्षुः अनिन्द्रियाभ्याम्] नेत्र और मन से [न] नहीं होता।
Anvayartha: vyanjanavagraha [cakshuh anindriyabhyam] netra aura mana se [na] nahim hota |
Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:
Does indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha) occur in case of all the senses? No.
Indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha) does not occur in case of the eyes and the mind. How? It is because these do not operate on the basis of contact. The eyes apprehend an object that is not touching it but placed in its vicinity in proper perspective and revealed by external light. Similarly, the mind apprehends an object without touching it. Hence, there is no indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha) in case of the sense of sight and the mind.
How is it ascertained that there is no contact in ease of the eyes? It is ascertained from the Scripture and by inference. First, from the Scripture: ‘The sense-organ of hearing apprehends sound that comes in contact, the sense-organ of sight apprehends form (colour) that does not come in contact. The sense-organs of smell, taste and touch apprehend smell, taste and touch, respectively, which come in contact.’ By inference: the sense-organ of sight operates without contact for it does not apprehend the object that is in contact. This is clear from the fact that it does not perceive the collyrium applied to the eye. Unlike the sense-organ of touch, it does not perceive it. Thus, both the eyes and the mind operate without contact.
It is clear, therefore, that indistinct impression (vyañjanāvagraha) is possible in case of all senses except the sense of sight and the mind. Distinct impression (arthāvagraha) obtains in case of all the senses and the mind.