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TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
from that characterizing the other by two, three, four or more units. Hence it is that in case the degree of smoothness or roughness characterizing one component differs from that characterizing the other by just one unit, then combination cannot take place between those two similar components.
The svetāmbara and Digambara traditions do not differ as to the reading of these three aphorisms but they do differ as to their meaning. In connection with this difference of meaning three things are noteworthy :
(1) To concede or not the possibility of combination in the case where just one atom is of a minimum degree.
(2) To take or not the word “etc.' occurring in the aphorism 35 to mean the numbers three etc.
(3) To maintain or not that the rule of combination laid down in the aphorism 35 applies only to the cases of similar components.
(1) According to both the Bhāsya and Vrtti combination is denied only in case both the atoms are of a minimum degree; that is to say, according to both these texts combination i possible in case just one atom is of a minimum degree while the other is not. But according to all the Digambara commentaries like Sarvārthasiddhi etc. just as combination is denied in the case of two atoms of a minimum degree it is also denied in the case where just one atom is of a minimum degree though the other is not.
(2) According to the Bhāsya and the Vrtti the word 'etc'. occuring in the aphorism 35 is taken to mean the numbers three etc. Hence according to them combination is deemed possible in case the degree of smoothness or roughness characterizing one component differs from that characterizing the other by two, three, four...sankhyāta, asankhyāta, ananta units; it is deemed impossible only in case the difference in question is just one unit. But according to all the Digambara commentaries combination is deemed possible only in case the difference in question is two units; that is to say, according to them it is deemed impossible
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