________________
Tattvārthasūtra
Space pervades both the universe and the non-universe. Infinite means endless. What is infinite? The space-points (pradeśa) of space (ākāśa) are infinite. The idea of space-points is to be understood as already given: ‘a space-point (pradeśa) is said to be the space occupied by an indivisible elementary particle (paramāņu)'. The extent of space-points (pradeśa) of non-material (amūrta) substances has been mentioned. Now the space-points of material (mūrta) substance-the matter - must be ascertained.
संख्येयासंख्येयाश्च पुद्गलानाम् ॥१०॥
[ पुद्गलानाम् ] पुद्गलों के [ संख्येयासंख्येयाः च ] संख्यात, असंख्यात और अनन्त प्रदेश हैं।
The space-points (pradeśa) of the matter (pudgala) are numerable (samkhyāta), innumerable (asamkhyāta) and infinite (ananta).
The particle 'ca' in the sūtra includes infinite (ananta) also. Some molecules of matter have numerable (samkhyāta) space-points (pradeśa), some others innumerable (asamkhyāta) and yet others infinite (ananta). It is contended that infinite-times-infinite (anantānanta) should be mentioned in the sūtra. It is not required since 'infinte' is used in a general sense. Infinite is of three kinds, parītānanta, yuktānanta and anantānanta. All these are included in 'infinte' when used in a general sense. A contention arises. It is admitted that the universe is of innumerable (asamkhyāta) spacepoints. How, then, can the universe accommodate molecules of infinite (ananta) and infinite-times-infinite (anantānanta) space-points? It seems contradictory; the space-points (pradeśa) of the matter (pudgala) cannot be infinite (ananta). No, there is no inconsistency here. The indivisible particles of matter are capable of taking subtle
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
188
