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326
THE ESSENCE OF JAINA SCRIPTURES
plural material substance in a mcdification as a single mass.
Now he averts the doubt how there is evolution of plural substance in a modification as a mass:
11.71. The ultimate atom, itself not possessing spacial units or space-points, having the extent of one spacial unit only, and soundless, experiences, as smooth or rough, the condition of extension over two spacial units and so on. (163)
The ultimate atom, since it has not two or more spacial units, is without spacial units; since it has one spacial unit, it is of the extent of one spacial unit only; since it has not itself the particular modification, sound, which consists in plural substance of ultimate atoms, it is soundless. Because, existing without opposition to the four touches, the five tastes, the two smells, and the five colours, it may be either smooth or rough, thence comes its experience, in the form of evolution into the modification “mass,"92 of the condition of extension over two spacial units and so on. Thus, accordingly, smoothness and roughness bring about the condition “mass.”
Now he states what-like are that smoothness and roughness of the ultimate atom:
II.72. Beginning with extension over) one, the smoothness or roughness of the atom is said to increase, through its evolution, by units, until it experiences the condition of infinite number. (164)
The ultimate-atom has evolution, since that, as the innate nature of things, is unescapable. Subject to variation” from time to time in consequence of that evolution,-since the atom is adapted to diverse qualities,--smoothness or roughness results, including distinctions in an unbroken series, which, beginning with one, through addition of unit ends in infinity.
Next he here states from what kind of smoothness or roughness the condition of mass arises:
II.73. The smooth or rough evolutions of atoms are either even or odd: when exceeding the even by two, they are combined, except at the beginning. 94 (165)
The general rule is "combination resulting from smoothness or roughness in excess of the even by two degrees”; because a difference of two in degree of smoothness or roughness is, as cause of evolution, efficient of combination (allowed). The exception is “no combination resulting from smoothness or roughness in the first degree”; because