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496
VEDÂNTA-SOTRAS.
parts on the one hand, and their multitude on the other. If, now, it be held that the atom itself contains an infinity of parts, the mustard seed and the mountain alike will contain an infinity of parts, and thus their inequality cannot be accounted for. We must therefore assume that there is a limit of subdivision (i.e. that there are real atoms which do not themselves consist of parts).-Not so, we reply. If the atoms did not possess distinct parts, there could originate no extension greater than the extension of one atom (as already shown), and thus neither mustard seed nor mountain would ever be brought about.-But what, then, are we to do to get out of this dilemma ?You have only to accept the Vedic doctrine of the origination of the world!
Others explain the above Satra as meant to refute an objection against the doctrine of Brahman being the general cause. But this does not suit the arrangement of the Satras, and would imply a meaningless iteration. The objections raised by some against the doctrine of Brahman have been disposed of in the preceding pada, and the present pâda is devoted to the refutation of other theories. And that the world admits of being viewed as springing from an intelligent principle such as Brahman was shown at length under II, 1,4. The sense of the Satra, therefore, is none other than what we stated above.—But what are those other untenable views to which the Satra refers - To this question the next Satra replies
11. On both assumptions also there is no motion, and thence non-being (of the origination of the world).
The atomic theory teaches that the world is produced by the successive formation of compounds, binary, ternary, and so on, due to the aggregation of atoms-such aggregation resulting from the motion of the atoms. The primary motion of the atoms—which are the cause of the origination of the entire world—is assumed to be brought about by the unseen principle (adrishta), 'The upward flickering of fire, the sideway motion of air, the primary motion on the part
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