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## Pinḍaniryukti: An Observation
Because land that has been uprooted by the wheels of carts and wagons, or broken by a plow, is initially sentient (saccitt), but then becomes somewhat insentient (acitt) due to cold winds and other factors, it becomes mixed. When rainwater falls on sentient earth, initially some of the earth particles become insentient, while some remain sentient. After a short time, both become insentient due to being weapons (śastra) to each other.
If there is heavy rainfall, the earth particles remain in a mixed state until the rain stops. When the rain stops, sometimes the earth remains sentient. Dung and other fuels are weapons to sentient earth particles. As long as the earth is not fully transformed, it remains sentient. If there is more fuel (dung, etc.) and less earth, the earth remains in a mixed state for one prahara. With moderate fuel, it remains sentient for two praharas, and with little fuel, it remains sentient for three praharas. The commentator of Oghaniryukti explains this using the example of clay mixed with water brought by a potter.
If salt, etc., is transported from its place of origin to a distance of one hundred yojanas, it becomes insentient. Some Acharyas consider one hundred gavyutis instead of one hundred yojanas. Explaining the reason for its becoming insentient, the commentator says that it does not get its appropriate nourishment. It becomes insentient when transferred from one vessel to another, or when placed from one cart to another. It also becomes insentient due to wind, fire, and smoke.
The commentator gives another reason for salt, etc., becoming insentient, saying that it becomes insentient when people sit on bags of salt loaded on the back of a cart, or due to the heat of the body of oxen, etc. It also gradually becomes insentient when the nourishment it receives from the earth is cut off.
Similarly, harital, manahsila, etc., which are earth particles, also become insentient when transported beyond one hundred yojanas. The reasons for their becoming insentient should be understood in the same way as for salt.
Cold weapons, hot weapons (intense heat of the sun, etc.), alkali, special dung, fire, salt, salt produced in arid regions, etc., along with dust, acidity, oil, etc., are all weapons to earth particles. These make the earth particles insentient. The commentator of Pinḍaniryukti, Viracharya, has also discussed in detail the becoming insentient of earth particles in relation to substance (dravya), region (kṣetra), time (kāla), and emotion (bhāva).
1. Pinḍi 11, Mavṛ P. 8.
2. Oniti P. 129.
3. Prasāti P. 297; Some read gavyutishatam in place of yojanashatam.
4. Bṛbhā 973, T P. 306, Prasāga 1001; Due to the presence of fast-moving vehicles in the present time, the possibility of becoming insentient after being transported for one hundred yojanas is less.
5. Bṛbhā 975, T P. 307.
6. Bṛbhā 974, T P. 306.
7. Pinḍi 12.
8. Vīvṛ P. 144.