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208
TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
simultaneously desired to be spoken of then since there exists no single word connotative of them both the soul is said to be indescribable. And apart from the sentential constructions based on a desire to speak, a desire not to speak and a desire to speak simultaneously there are four more that result from the various combinations of those three. Thus a soul can be characterized as permanent-cum-transient, permanent-cum-indescribable, transientcum-indescribable, permanent-cum-transient-cum-indescribable. These seven sentential constructions are designated saptabhangī or 'sevenfold predication.' Of these seven sentences the first threeand of these three the first two—are basic. And just as on the basis of the properties permanence and transience proved to occur from different standpoints and depending on the desire of the speaker concerned sevenfold predication is applied to a thing, similarly sevenfold predication should be applied to it on the basis of the pairs of properties existence and non-existence, oneness and manyness, describable and indescribable which too appear to be mutually contradictory but are proved to occur from different standpoints. Hence it is that one and the same thing is treated as characterized by various properties and as a subject-matter of the usages of various types. 31.
Stating the Cause for Combination among Pudgalas :
Combination takes place on the ground of smoothness and roughness. 32.
A pudgala-aggregate does not originate merely from a mutual conjunction of its components like atoms etc. For that something else is required apart from conjunction—to point out this is the aim of the present aphorism. Besides a conjunction of the components concerned what is further required is that these components should possess the qualities smoothness and roughness. When smooth and rough components join together then there takes place combination—that is, transformation of the form of becoming one; it is on account of this combination that there emerge into being aggregates like two-atomed etc.
A conjunction of smooth and rough components can be of
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