Verse 2.17 - The physical-sense (dravyendriya)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 2.17:

निर्वृत्त्युपकरणे द्रव्येन्द्रियम् ॥ २.१७ ॥

nirvṛttyupakaraṇe dravyendriyam || 2.17 ||

The physical-sense (dravendriya) consists of the formation of the organ–nirvṛtti–and the instrument itself–upakaraṇa. (17)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [निर्वृत्ति उपकरणे] निवृत्ति और उपकरण को [द्रव्येन्द्रियम्] द्रव्येन्द्रिय कहते हैं।

Anvayartha: [nirvritti upakarane] nivritti aura upakarana ko [dravyendriyam] dravyendriya kahate haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The next sūtra describes the physical-sense (dravyendriya).

‘Nirvṛtti’ means formation. Who does the formation? The karmas. Formation is of two kinds, external (bāhya) and internal (ābhyantara). The spreading of a miniscule extent (one/innumerable part of utsedhāṅgula^[1]) of the soul in the shape of the senses such as the eyes is the internal formation. The collection of the physical matter, owing to the fruition of name-karma (nāmakarma), in the particular shape in the space covered by the soul is external formation. That which assists this formation (nirvṛtti) is the instrument (upakaraṇa). The instrument (upakaraṇa) also is of two kinds, external (bāhya) and internal (ābhyantara). In case of the eye, the eyeball is the internal instrument and the eyelids and the eyelashes are the external instruments. Similarly, it should be understood in respect of the other senses.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

utsedhāṅgula = lit. small finger in its breadth; eight barley seeds in diameter (‘Trilokasāra’, gāthā 18, p. 23)