Tattvartha Sutra

SR No.: 006796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sukhlal Sanghavi, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 596
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Tattvartha Sutra, & Tattvarth
File Size: 10 MB

Page 387

214
TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
When the parties to combine are of an equal degree a ‘similar combination does not take place at all, what then takes place is a dissimilar combination : For example, two units of smoothness might combine with two units of roughness, or three units of smoothness with three of roughness. In such cases either of the parties might lend its own form to the other; that is to say, in accordance with the nature of the concerned substance, place, time, mode it so happens in such cases that sometimes smoothness converts roughness into smoothness sometimes roughness converts smoothness into roughness. But when the parties to combine are of an unequal degree it is one with a larger degree that lends its own form to one with a smaller degree. For example, the five-unit smoothness lends its own form to the three-unit smoothness; that is to say, as a result of combing with the five-unit smoothness the three-unit smoothness too becomes five-unit smoothness. Similarly, the five-unit smoothness lends its own form to the three-unit roughness; that is to say, roughness is here converted into smoothness. And when roughness is of a larger degree it too lends its own form-viz. the form of roughness-to the smoothness of a smaller degree. 36.
The Definition of Dravya or Substance :
A dravya or substance is possessed of guņas or qualities and paryāyas or modes. 37.
Substance has been earlier mentioned a number of times; so a definition of it is being offered here.
That which is possessed of qualities and modes is called substance. Since to undergo transformation is the very nature of a substance it goes on being variously transformed-that is, goes on undergoing various transformations—from samaya to samaya. The capacity of a substance to produce transformations is called its quality while the transformations produced by a quality are called modes. Thus the quality is a cause, the modes its effect. Now qualities of the form of a capacity residing in a substance are ananta in number and they are in fact inseparable from the substance acting as their support as also from one another.