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## Chapter Five
**532.** To explain the specific characteristics of the substances mentioned, the following sutra is stated:
The substances are eternal, permanent, and formless. ||4||
**533.** The word "eternal" means permanent. According to the *Vārtika* "ne dhve tyah", the word "nitya" is formed by adding the suffix "ty" to the root "ni" in the sense of permanent. These six substances, which are characterized by specific features like motion, cause, etc. in relation to *paryāyāthika* (relating to the categories of existence), and by general features like existence, etc. in relation to *dravyaāthika* (relating to the categories of substance), never undergo destruction, hence they are eternal. This will be further explained in the sutra "tad bhāva avyayam nityam". Their number never changes, hence they are permanent. The six substances, Dharma, etc., never exceed the number six, hence they are called permanent. They do not possess form, hence they are formless. Here, only the absence of form is stated, but since taste, etc. are its associates, their absence is also implied. Therefore, formless means non-material.
**534.** Just as the general characteristics of being eternal and permanent are applicable to all substances, the characteristic of being formless is also applicable to *pudgala*. Therefore, to explain the exception, the following sutra is stated:
*Pudgala* are formed. ||5||