Sambodhi 2006 Vol 30

Author(s): J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 41

Vol. XXX, 2006
VARIOUS VIEWS ON SVABHĀVA: A CRITICAL SURVEY
35
Who fashions the sharpness of the thorns and the varied nature of beasts and birds? Who fashions the sugarcane sweet and the
margosa bitter? All this takes place by natural development."
Yet another version found in an anonymous cūrni on the SKS and SKSVr, too, omits all references to both will and effort.
kaņțakasya ca tiks atvaṁ mayūrasya vicitratā/ varnāśca tāmracūdāņāṁ svabhāvena bhavanti hi// The sharpness of the thorn, the variety of colours of the peacock,
the hues of the cock are indeed due to svabhāva.'s
The LS (fourteenth century) also associates the sharpness of the thorn, etc. with svabhāva, although the author was aware of the concept of yadrcchā as distinct from svabhāva." Aryaśūra in his JM similarly cites the example of the variety of the leaves of trees and feathers of birds and concludes with the statement that the whole universe is the product of its own being (23.17).
kah padmanāladalakesarakarnikānāṁ saṁsthānavarṇaracanāmsdutādihetuḥ patrāņi citrayati ko'tra patatriņāṁ vā svābhāvikaṁ jagadidań niyataṁ tathaivall "What', said he, 'is the cause of the shape of the colour, the arrangement, the softness and so on of the stalks, the petals, the filaments and the pericarps of the lotuses? Who diversifies the feathers of the birds in this world? In just the same manner this whole universe is the product of the work of essential and
inherent properties, to be sure."!? The verse is preceded by the following authorial comment:
kaścidenamamātyo durvibhāyyahetubhinidarśanairahetuvādań prati pracakrya. One among them (sc. ministers) endeavoured to win him (sc. the king) for the doctrine according to which there should be no causality, taking for examples such instances, where it is difficult
to demonstrate causality." Both Dharmakirti (sixth/seventh century) and śāntaraksita, refer to the