Verse 5.41 - Definition of guṇa (qualities)

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Tattvartha sūtra 5.41:

द्रव्याश्रया निर्गुणा गुणाः ॥ ५.४१ ॥

dravyāśrayā nirguṇā guṇāḥ || 5.41 ||

Those which incessantly have substance (dravya) as their substratum and do not have qualities–nirguṇā–are qualities (guṇa). (41)

Hindi Anvayarth:

अन्वयार्थ: [द्रव्याश्रया] जो द्रव्य के आश्रय से हों और [निर्गुणा] स्वयं दूसरे गुणों से रहित हों [गुणाः] वे गुण हैं।

Anvayartha: [dravyashraya] jo dravya ke ashraya se hom aura [nirguna] svayam dusare gunom se rahita hom [gunah] ve guna haim |

Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi:

The substance (dravya) has been defined as that which has qualities (guṇa) and modes (paryāya). (see sūtra 5-38). What are qualities?

The term ‘dravyāśraya’ means the substance (dravya) as the substratum. Those which do not have qualities are ‘nirguṇā’. Those which are marked by both these attributes are qualities (guṇa). The qualification ‘without qualities’–nirguṇā–excludes molecules of two atoms, etc. These molecules of two atoms, etc., have the substance (dravya) as their substratum and possess qualities. Therefore, these have been excluded by the qualification ‘without qualities’–nirguṇā. One may argue that modes (paryāya), like the pitcher, have substance as their substratum and are without qualities. So the term qualities (guṇa) would apply to these (modes) also. But it is not so. The term ‘dravyāśraya’ implies that qualities must reside incessantly in the substance (dravya). Because of this qualification, the modes (paryāya), which are occasional, are not considered as the qualities (guṇa).