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Transformation of Matter
299
of atoms at any moment is different from what it was at the previous moment."1
Energy (Rajas) works on the original infinitesimal units of Mass (Bhūtādi), absolutely homogeneous and absolutely inert and ubiquitous, being devoid of all physical and chemical characters (rūpādibhirasaṁyutaṁ) except quantum (paricchinnatva pariņāma)". The action of Energy on the original units produces the infra-atomic unit-potentials (tanmā tras) charged with different kinds of Energy. It “represents the subtile matter-vibratory, impingent, radiant, etc. instinct with potential energy." These "potentials" arise from the unequal aggregation of the original Mass-units in different proportions and collocations with an unequal distribution of the original Energy (Rajas).”2
Dr. B. N. Seal explains the Samkhya process of transformation of matter in this manner; "the potentials lodged in subtle matter must undergo peculiar transformations by new grouping or collocations to be classed among sensory stimuligross matter being supposed to be matter endowed with properties of the class of sensory stimuli, though in the minutest particles thereof the sensory stimuli may be infra-sensible (atlodriya but not anudbhūta).''
"First, the potential” of the sound-stimulus is lodged in one class of Tanmātras—particles which possess the physical 1. History of Indian Philosophy, Vol. I. p. 250, 2. The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, pp. 24-25;
Tanmātrarūpādeh kim kāraṇam iti cet svakāraṇadravyāņām nyūnādhikabhāvena anyo' anyaṁ prati samyogavisesa eva svajātiyopastambhādinā vệddhibrāsādikam ca yuktam,
Vide The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 25. 3. Tasmistasmimstutanmātrāḥ te cā' avisesinaḥ, te ca padār
thāḥ śāntaghoramūdhakhyaiḥ sthūlagataśabdādiviśesaiḥ śūnyā ekarūpatvāt, tathā ca śāntādiviśesaśünyaśabdādimattvameva bhūtānāṁ śabdāditanmātratvam. Vide The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 25.
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