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5. 32-35]
Exceptions to the General Rules of Bonding
When two parts have the same quality, there is no bonding between similar, i.e., 'snigdha' (smooth) with 'snigdha' components and 'ruksha' (rough) with 'ruksha' components.
Bonding occurs between components with excess parts.
The first of these sutras is prohibitive regarding bonding. According to it, the bonding of those base quality atoms that possess a significant portion of smoothness or roughness does not occur. This prohibition implies that all components with medium and superior quantity parts can bond with each other. However, there is also an exception described in the subsequent sutra, which states that there is no bonding between similar components that have equal parts. Thus, no ‘skandha’ (aggregate) forms between atoms of smooth and rough qualities with equal parts. The implication of this prohibition is that bonding occurs between similar components with unequal qualities. By mitigating this implication, the third sutra establishes a limit for bonding between similar components with unequal parts. Accordingly, bonding occurs between similar components when one component has two, three, four, etc., more parts of smoothness or roughness than the other. Therefore, if one component's smoothness or roughness is only one part higher than the other, bonding does not occur between those two similar components.
In both the Svetambara and Digambara traditions, there are no textual differences in the three sutras presented, but there are certainly differences in meaning. Regarding the differences in meaning, three points are noteworthy - 1. When a base quality atom is of singular quantity, whether bonding occurs or not, 2. Whether to consider the term 'adi' in sutra 35 as signifying three initial quantities or not, and 3. Whether the bonding described in sutra 35 is applicable only to similar components or not.
1. According to the commentary and sub-commentary, bonding is prohibited only when both atoms are of base quality; that is, bonding occurs when one atom is of base quality, and the other is not. However, according to all Digambara interpretations such as Sarvārthasiddhi, bonding between two atoms with base quality is not seen in the bonding of one base quality atom with another non-base quality atom.
2. According to the commentary and sub-commentary, the term 'adi' in sutra 35 is considered to signify three initial quantities. Thus, it refers to the portions of smoothness or roughness between one component and another as two, three, four, and increasing indefinitely.