Verse 5.10 - The space-points of material substance

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 5.10:

संख्येयासंख्येयाश्च पुद्गलानाम् ॥ ५.१० ॥

saṃkhyeyāsaṃkhyeyāśca pudgalānām || 5.10 ||

The space-points (pradeśa) of the matter (pudgala) are numerable (saṃkhyāta), innumerable (asaṃkhyāta) and infinite (ananta). (10)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [पुद्गलानाम्] पुद्गलों के [संख्येयासंख्येयाः च] संख्यात, असंख्यात और अनन्त प्रदेश हैं।

Anvayartha: [pudgalanam] pudgalom ke [samkhyeyasamkhyeyah ca] samkhyata, asamkhyata aura ananta pradesha haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The extent of space-points (pradeśa) of non-material (amūrta) sub-stances has been mentioned. Now the space-points of material (mūrta) substance–the matter–must be ascertained.

The particle ‘ca’ in the sūtra includes infinite (ananta) also. Some molecules of matter have numerable (saṃkhyāta) space-points (pradeśa), some others innumerable (asaṃkhyāta) and yet others infinite (ananta). It is contended that infinite-times-infinite (anantānanta) should be mentioned in the sūtra. It is not required since ‘infinte’ is used in a general sense. Infinite is of three kinds, parītānanta, yuktānanta and anantānanta. All these are included in ‘infinte’ when used in a general sense. A contention arises. It is admitted that the universe is of innumerable (asaṃkhyāta) space-points. How, then, can the universe accommodate molecules of infinite (ananta) and infinite-times-infinite (anantānanta) space-points? It seems contradictory; the space-points (pradeśa) of the matter (pudgala) cannot be infinite (ananta). No, there is no inconsistency here. The indivisible particles of matter are capable of taking subtle forms, and in such subtle forms even infinite particles of matter can find accommodation in one space-point of the space (ākāśa). Moreover, the space (ākāśa) has amazing power of accommodation (avagāhana).