Dravyasamgraha

Author(s): Nemichandra Acharya, Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp

Page 90

Verse 19 & 20
space gives room to souls and forms of matter which are characterized by activity. But the media of motion and rest are inactive and eternally pervasive. And how can penetration apply to these substances? The objection is untenable, as penetration is established by convention. For instance, space is spoken of as pervading everywhere, although there is no movement. This is because space exists everywhere. Similarly, though there is no penetration by the media of motion and rest, it is attributed conventionally as these permeate the entire universe-space.
Another question is raised. If the characteristic of space is to give room for other objects, then there would be no obstruction of objects such as stones by steel, adamant and so on and of cows and others by walls etc. But there is obstruction. Hence it is destitute of the nature of giving room for other things. But this objection is untenable. The obstruction in the instances given is mutual between gross objects like steel and stones. So this does not affect the capacity of space to give room to other objects. In the instances given, obstruction is offered by the objects only and not by space. Further steel, wall, etc., are gross objects and they do not give room to each other. This is not the fault of space. Subtle forms of matter do give room to each other. If it is so, this is not the special characteristic of space, as this is present in others also. But there is no contradiction in this.
The capacity to allow common accommodation to all substances is the special characteristic of space. It cannot be said that this characteristic is absent in the non-universe space, for no substance gives up its own inherent nature.
Jain, S.A., Reality, p. 143-144.
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