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138
COSMOLOGY OLD AND NEW
of neutrons, protons and electrons to form atoms, atoms uniting to form molecules are examples of Sanghata.
The joint process of bheda and Sanghata is described as follows:
भेदसंघाताभ्यामेकसमयिकाभ्यां द्विप्रदेशादयः स्कन्धा उत्पद्यन्ते । अन्यतो भेदेनान्यस्य संघातेनेति ।। 310
(By simultaneous separation and union molecules occupying two cells in space (pradesas) are produced. Just when one molecule breaks, the detached part attaches itself to another molecule.)
Compare this with the phenomenon of ionisation' in gases:
"The act of ionisation in gases really consists in the detachment of an electron from a neutral atom of the gas.... The detached electron soon attaches itself in a gas to a neutral atom." It is in this manner that positive and negative ions are, formed.
Is not the coincidence surprising? Still one is apt to disbelieve that the phenomenon of ionisation in gases was known to the ancients.
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SUTRA 27. भेदादणुः ।। २७ ।। BHEDADANUH [27]
( भेदात् अणुरुत्पद्यते । )
The ultimate elementary particles are produced only by division of matter (to an infinite extent not by the process of union or fusion).
The same view is expressed in a fuller statement :
अणोरुत्पत्तिर्भेदादेव, न संघातान्नापि भेदसंघाताभ्यामिति ।। ।।
The anu of the ancients is very clearly defined by the author of Sarvarthasiddhi under sutra 25 as ahead
310. Sarvartha-siddhi, on sutra 5.26. 311. Sarvartha-siddhi, on Sutra 5.27.
