________________
अजीवाधिकार
2 - THE NON-SOUL
not possible. Similarly, the indivisible unit of matter (paramāņu) occupies one space-point, and there can be no further division of its spatial unit. Further, there is nothing smaller than the indivisible atom (paramānu). So there can be no division of its space-point.1
Ācārya Umāsvāmī's Tattvārthasūtra:
37017: TOWETT 114-8411
पुद्गल अणु और स्कन्ध के भेद से दो प्रकार के हैं।
The atoms (anu) and the molecules (skandha) are the two divisions of the matter (pudgala).
The atom (aņu) is the smallest unit of the matter (pudgala). It occupies just one space-point (pradeśa). The collections of atoms which, in their gross state, can be taken by the hand and handled are the molecules (skandha). Conventionally, if action is present in a few instances, by synecdoche it can be extended to other versions too. Hence, the word ‘molecule' (skandha) also applies to molecules consisting of two or more atoms, which cannot be so handled. Though the matter (pudgala) has infinite subclasses, still it is divided into two main classes, atoms (anu) and molecules (skandha).
1 - see Acārya Umāsvāmi's Tattvārthasūtra – With Explanation in English from Ācārya Pūjyapāda's Sarvārthasiddhi, sūtra 5-11, p. 189.
49