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SUTRA 33.
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As mentioned incidentally on page 140 these terms 3) snigdha and ruksa appear to have been arbitrarily used as the terms positive and negative have been used by modern electricians to denote the two kinds of electricity. This is further explained in gatha 615 of Gommajasara (Jivakända) :
णिद्धस्स णिद्धेण दुराहिएण लुक्खस्स लुक्खेण दुराहिएण।
णिद्धस्स लक्खेण हवेज्ज बंधो जहण्णवज्जे विसमे समे वा।। A positive elementary particle combines with another similar particle differing in energy level by two units : Also a negative elementary particle combines with another negative elementary particle differing again in energy level by two units.
A positive particle can also unite with a negative particle and vice versa. Particles at the lowest energy level do not unite. The union of the various particles of different energy levels may form an odd or an even series,--3, 5, 7, 9, etc., or 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.
A few examples are given below from modern science to illustrate these combinations :
The heavy electron, referred to on page 85 f.n. has been formed by the union of electrons, i.e., negative elementary particles of matter. If we call negative as ruksa, this is a case of ruksa combining with ruksa.
In the Science and Culture for February 1938 we read that Prof. Eddington "from his theory, has predicted the exislence of negatrons" (negative protons) i.e., particles as heavy as the protons but composed of negative particles or negative electric charges. We are pleased to state that such a particle has been discovered and it is an example of ruksa particles combining with ruksu.
The snigdhu combining with snigdha is illustrated in the formation of protons. Positron is a snigdha elementary particle whereas the proton is a much bigger particle of the same kind. We venture to suggest that a proton has been formed
333. One is likely to question as to wnat led us to identify snigdha and ruksa qualities of pudgala with positive and negative electrifications. In support of our interpretation we quote the following words from Sarvårthasiddhi (on Sutra 5.24).
"...PETTERE muffint faec . (Lightning discharge in clouds is produced by the qualities of snigdha and ruksa i.e., due to the development of positive and negative charges.)
