________________
The Jaina world of Non-living
numerable, innumerable and infinite times the units. The atoms have such smoothness in varying numbers. 4. The roughness has also varying numericality in terms of numerable, innumerable and infinite units. The atoms have such a roughness in varying numbers. 5. It is observed that different objects have gradually varying degree of smoothness. This could be illustrated by the fact that (i) the goats milk and its butter has higher smoothness than water (ii) the milk of cow and its butter has still higher smoothness than that of the goat's one (iii) the buffalo's milk and its butter has still higher smoothness than that of the cow's one and (iv) the milk of the she-camel and its butter has the highest smoothness with reference to all the above.
Similarly, gradually varying degrees of roughness are also observed. The straw-powders are rougher than dust particles. The sand particles are rougher than straw particles. Just as, we have varying degrees of smoothness and roughness in objects as above, we can infer that atoms will also have differing degrees of these qualities.
The aphorism 5.33 indicates general atomic bonding due to smoothness and roughness. However, the next aphorisms indicates exceptions to this rule :
Na Jaghanya-guņāņām 5.34 The atoms having minimum degree of smoothness and roughness (zero or one) do not have mutual bonding 5.34. 1. The thigh part of the body is the lowest part having lowest value than any other higher parts of the body. Just as this thigh has a low value, similarly other objects or qualities may have low values. The objects with lowest values are termed as 'minimum-valued' objects. 2. The term 'guna' in the aphorism has many meanings. It means qualities of colour etc. It means numerically multiple like two-times, three-times etc. It also means service like a service-rendering saint. It also means richness as 'this country is rich in cows and grains'. It also means equivalence of components like rope twice or thrice as long. It also connotes the idea of secondariness just as we are not important persons in
260
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org