Verse 5.26 - The origin of molecules (skandha)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 5.26:

भेदसङ्घातेभ्य उत्पद्यन्ते ॥ ५.२६ ॥

bhedasaṅghātebhya utpadyante || 5.26 ||

Molecules (skandha) are formed by fission (bheda), fusion (saṅghāta) and division-cum-union (bheda-saṅghāta). (26)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: परमाणुओं के [भेदसातेभ्य] भेद (अलग होने से) सङ्घात (मिलने से) अथवा भेद सङ्घात दोनों से [उत्पद्यन्ते] पुद्गल स्कन्धों की उत्पत्ति होती है।

Anvayartha: paramanuom ke [bhedasatebhya] bheda (alaga hone se) sanghata (milane se) athava bheda sanghata donom se [utpadyante] pudgala skandhom ki utpatti hoti hai |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

Are these modes of the matter (pudgala), atoms (aṇu) and molecules (skandha), beginningless, or with a beginning? As these originate, these have a beginning. In that case how are these formed? First the origin of molecules (skandha) is described.

The splitting of molecules (aggregates) by internal and external causes is fission (bheda). The collection together of separate things is fusion (saṅghāta). It is contended that since fission and fusion are two, the dual, and not the plural, should be used in the sūtra. The plural is used to include the third, namely, the combination of fission and fusion. It is explained thus. By the combination of two separate atoms, a molecule occupying two space-points (pradeśa) is formed. By the combination of a molecule of two space-points with one atom or the combination of three atoms, a molecule of three space-points is formed. A molecule of four space-points is produced by the combination of two molecules of two atoms each, of one molecule of three atoms with one atom or of four atoms. Similarly, by the fusion (combination) of numerable (saṃkhyāta), innumerable (asaṃkhyāta), infinite (ananta) and infinite-times-infinite (anantānanta) atoms, the molecules of respective space-points (pradeśa) are formed. By the splitting (fission) of such molecules, molecules in size up to the smallest, comprising of two atoms, are produced. Similarly, by the process of fission and fusion in the same instant, molecules of two atoms, and so on, are formed. These are produced by fission of some molecules and fusion of others. Thus the formation of molecules is described.