________________ Pancastikaya-samgraha (sparsa) exist in all kinds of matter; their degrees vary. The four elements, of earth (prthivi), water (jala), fire (agni), and air (vayu), exhibit these qualities and are caused by the atom (paramanu). Substance (dravya) does not exist without the mode (paryaya). The modification (parinama) of the substance (dravya) is its mode (paryaya). As a rule, at no time does the substance (dravya) exist without its modification (parinama). In addition, without the existence of the substance (dravya), the modifications (parinama) cannot exist. The atom (paramanu), too, has this quality of modification (parinama). The four elements, of earth (prthivi), water (jala), fire (agni), and air (vayu), are its modifications (parinama). The sound (sabda) is recognized by the sense-of-hearing (srotra) but it is the mode (paryaya) of the matter (pudgala), not its quality (guna). Since sound is produced by the union of molecules (skandha) of the matter (pudgala), it is the mode (paryaya) and not the quality (guna) of the matter (pudgala). Why is the sound the mode (paryaya) and not the quality (guna) of the matter (pudgala)? The answer is that the mode (paryaya) is marked by transitoriness and the quality (guna) by permanence. If sound were to be the quality (guna) of the matter (pudgala), all matter (pudgala) would be of the nature of sound (sabda); this certainly is not the case. The sound is produced by the union of molecules (skandha) of the matter (pudgala); it is, therefore, the mode (paryaya) of the matter (pudgala) and not its quality (guna). Acarya Kundakunda's Niyamasara: धाउचउक्कस्स पुणो जं हेऊ कारणं ति तं णेयो / खंधाणं अवसाणं णादव्वो कज्जपरमाणू // 25 // जो इन चार धातुओं - पृथिवी, जल, तेज (अग्नि) और वायु - का कारण है उसे कारण-परमाणु जानना चाहिये, और स्कन्धों के अवसान को अर्थात् स्कन्धों में भेद होते-होते जो अन्तिम अंश रहता है उसे कार्य-परमाणु जानना चाहिये। . . . . . . . . . . . .. 154
