Reality English Translation of Sarvarthasiddhi

Author(s): S A Jain
Publisher: Jwalamalini Trust Chennai

Page 93

THE ORDER OF INCREASE OF THE SENSES
65
What is attainment ? Attainment is a variety of destructioncum-subsidence of knowledge-covering karmas. In the presence of this attainment of capacity, the soul makes use of the physical senses (to gain knowledge). The attentive disposition of the soul for that purpose is termed active consciousness (attention or upayoga). Both constitute the psychic sense. Consciousness is the effect of sense. How can it be called a sense? The characteristic of cause is seen in the effect. For instance, knowledge in (i. e. grasping) the shape of the jar is called the jar. Here one's own inherent meaning is important. The sign of the soul is the sense, and this inherent meaning 'consciousness' is important. For it has been said that the soul is of the nature of consciousness. So consciousness is fit to be called a sense. The names of the senses and their order of
order of appearance are mentioned.
स्पर्शनरसनघ्राणचक्षुःश्रोत्राणि
Sparśanarasanaghrānacakṣuḥśrotrāņi (19) 19. Touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing (are the senses).
The senses are spoken of as something subservient to or different from the soul. With these eyes I see clearly, with these ears I hear distinctly. Hence touch etc. are the instruments, as these are dependent on another, namely the soul. On the destruction-cum-subsidence of energy-obstructing and sensory-knowledge-covering karmas and attainment of name karmas of limbs and minor limbs, that through which touch is experienced by the soul is the sense' of touch. Similarly, that through which taste is experienced is the sense of taste. That through which smell is experienced is the sense of smell. The verbal root cakşi has several meanings. Here 'seeing' is the meaning intended. Hence that through which objects are seen is the eye. That through which something is heard is the ear. The independent aspect also is seen. These my eyes see clearly. These my ears hear well.' Hence touch etc. are derived from the aspect of the agent in this manner. That vhich touches is the sense-organ of touch. That which tastes
i sense means sense-organ.