Verse 2.38 - Atoms or pace-points (pradeśa)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 2.38:

प्रदेशतोऽसंख्येयगुणं प्राक्तैजसात् ॥ २.३८ ॥

pradeśato'saṃkhyeyaguṇaṃ prāktaijasāt || 2.38 ||

Prior to the luminous (taijasa) body (śariīa), each body has innumerable-fold–(asaṃkhyeyaguṇā)–space-points (pradeśa) of the previous one. (38)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [प्रदेशतः] प्रदेशों की अपेक्षा से [तैजसात् प्राक्] तैजस शरीर से पहिले के शरीर [असंख्येयगुणं] असंख्यात्गुने हैं।

Anvayartha: [pradeshatah] pradeshom ki apeksha se [taijasat prak] taijasa sharira se pahile ke sharira [asamkhyeyagunam] asamkhyatgune haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

Are the bodies successively less with regard to space-points (pradeśa) too? No.

The word ‘pradeśa’ signifies the atom. That which is beyond the numerable is innumerable. That which is innumerable-fold is ‘asaṃkhyeyaguṇā’. With regard to what? It is with regard to atoms or space-points (pradeśa) and not with regard to the pervasive space. ‘Successively’ is supplied from the previous sūtra. This would then extend up to the karmic (kārmaṇa) body. In order to preclude such an interpretation, it is mentioned, ‘prior to the luminous (taijasa) body’. The transformable (vaikriyika) body has innumerable-fold space-points of the gross (audārika) one. The projectable (āhāraka) body has innumerable-fold space-points of the transformable (vaikriyika) one. What is the extent of the multiplying term? It is one/innumerable part of a palya. If so, the bodies must be successively greater in size. No. There is no difference in size owing to the nature of arrangement or structure, as in case of a heap of cotton and a ball of iron. Though the space-points are greater in case of the successive bodies, the size is determined by the compactness of the atoms.