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वर्तना परिणामक्रियाः परत्वापरत्वे च कालस्य
Vartanāpariņāmakriyāḥ paratvāparatve ca kalasya
22. Assisting substances in their continuity of being (through gradual changes), in their modifications, in their movements and in their priority and non-priority in time, are the functions of time.
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FUNCTIONS OF TIME
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The word Vartana1 (feminine gender) is derived from the root vrtti' with the causal suffix nic' and the passive or abstract suffix yut'. Causes to be continued, continues, or continuance alone is continuity of existence. Substances such as the medium of motion subsist by their own nature in attaining their modes. This is not possible without help from an external cause, which is the characteristic of time. Hence, assistance in the continuity of being (through gradual changes) is the function of (real) time. What is the meaning of the suffix 'nic'? The mode of a substance subsists. Time is causal in this activity. If it were so, time would attain activity. For instance we say, "The disciple studies, the preceptor helps him to study'. But there is nothing wrong in this. Even an auxiliary cause is spoken of as a causal agent. For instance, we say that the dried cowdung-fire causes the study of a disciple (in cold weather). Here the cowdung-fire is the auxiliary cause. Similarly time is a causal agent. How is it ascertained as time?
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Jain Education International
॥ २२ ॥
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There are particular activities, namely instant etc., and cooking etc. accomplished by instants etc. These are referred to as an instant of time, cooking time and so on by convention. But, in this traditional usage of an instant of time and cooking time and so on, the name of time is superimposed. 1 The distinction between vartana and parinama is not likely to be understood by those who are not acquainted with the Jaina conception of permanence in change or identity in difference. Changes take place in all substances, and yet the substances as substances are permanent. For instance, a piece of gold may be minted into a coin or made into a ring, and thus it undergoes changes. But the gold as such is permanent. Continuity through changes is the characteristic of all substances. Both vartana and parinama mean changes. But vartana refers to imperceptible, minute changes that go on incessantly every instant in all substances, whereas pariņāma refers to great changes which are perceptible to the senses and are called modes. See note on vartana on the next page for further details.
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