Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Translation:
159. If the five *astikayas* (categories of existence) and their attributes are considered to be distinct entities, then the following flaws arise:
If the knower (soul) is distinct from knowledge, then the soul, like a Devadatta without an axe, will be unable to perform the action of knowledge due to the absence of its instrumental aspect, and thus will be unconscious. Similarly, if knowledge is distinct from the knower (soul), then knowledge, like an axe without Devadatta, will be unable to perform the action of its agent due to the absence of its agent aspect, and thus will be unconscious. Furthermore, it is not possible for consciousness to arise from the combination of knowledge and the knower (soul) as distinct entities, because non-specific substance and the void without support are devoid of attributes. In other words, substance without attributes and attributes without a substance-like support are impossible. ||48||
**Sanskrit Commentary Verse 48:**
This verse shows the flaw in considering knowledge and the knower (soul) as completely distinct. If the knower (soul) and knowledge are completely distinct, then what is the flaw? The flaw is that both knowledge and the knower (soul) will be unconscious (inert). How is this inertness? It is a complete rejection of the teachings of the Jinas. Just as heat, which is completely distinct from the fire, is capable of burning, but is certainly cold in the absence of fire, similarly, knowledge, which is completely distinct from the soul, is capable of understanding objects, but is certainly inert in the absence of the soul. Just as fire, which is completely distinct from the heat, is capable of burning, but is certainly cold in the absence of heat, similarly, the soul, which is completely distinct from knowledge, is capable of understanding objects, but is certainly inert in the absence of knowledge. Some may argue that just as Devadatta becomes a cutter with a separate axe, similarly, the knower (soul) becomes a knower with separate knowledge. This is not correct. The axe is an external instrument for cutting, while the special power of the man, which arises from the absence of obstacles to his effort, is the internal instrument. In the absence of this power, the axe, even with the hand, cannot cut. Similarly, in the absence of the internal instrument of knowledge, even with the external support of light, etc., the man cannot understand objects. Therefore, due to the absence of knowledge, the soul becomes inert and wanders in the world, unable to attain the ultimate happiness of eternal bliss, which is free from attachment and is the natural beauty of the pure soul. This knowledge of the pure soul, which is free from attachment and other defilements, is the one that should be attained. ||48||
**Hindi Commentary Verse 48:**
This verse shows the flaw in considering knowledge and the knower (soul) as completely distinct. If you consider knowledge to be completely separate from the knower (soul), then what is the flaw?