Verse 5.4 - The special characteristics of substances

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 5.4:

नित्यावस्थितान्यरूपाणि ॥ ५.४ ॥

nityāvasthitānyarūpāṇi || 5.4 ||

The substances (dravya) are eternal (nitya), fixed-in-number (avasthita) and colourless (arūpī). (4)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: ऊपर कहे गये द्रव्यों में से चार द्रव्य [अरूपाणि] रूप रहित [नित्यावस्थितानि] नित्य और अवस्थित हैं।

Anvayartha: upara kahe gaye dravyom mem se cara dravya [arupani] rupa rahita [nityavasthitani] nitya aura avasthita haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The special characteristics of substances are described next.

‘Nitya’ means eternal. From the point of view of modes (paryāya)–paryāyārthika naya–these substances do not ever lose their special (viśeṣa) marks (lakṣaṇa), such as assistance in motion (gatihetutva) for the medium of motion (dharma), and from the point of view of substance (dravya)–dravyārthika naya–these substances do not ever lose their common (sāmānya) marks (lakṣaṇa), such as existence (astitva). Hence these substance (dravya) are indestructible and eternal (nitya). This is further highlighted in sūtra 5-31, ‘tadbhāvāvy-ayam nityam’–permanence is indestructibility of the essential nature (quality) of the substance. Since the fixed number is never violated, the substances are fixed-in-number (avasthita). These do not at any time transgress the number six. These are colourless (arūpī) as these do not possess colour (form). By negation of colour, the accompanying attributes of taste, smell and touch also are negatived. Hence these are colourless (arūpī), that is, non-material.