________________
Tattvārthasūtra
When a rule, well-established, is enunciated, it is for the purpose of imparting it definiteness or certainty. The rule is that the atom (aņu) is produced by fission (bheda) alone; it is not produced by fusion, or by combination of fission and fusion. A question is raised. While origin of molecules has satisfactorily been explained as by fusion (sanghāta), why was it necessary to mention the combination of fusion and fission? The next sūtra provides the answer.
भेदसङ्घाताभ्यां चाक्षुषः ॥२८॥
[चाक्षुषः ] चक्षु इन्द्रिय से देखने योग्य स्कन्ध [ भेद सनाताभ्याम् ] भेद और सङ्घात दोनों के एकत्र रूप होने से उत्पन्न होता है।
The molecules (skandha) produced by the combined action of fission (bheda) and fusion (sanghāta) can be perceived by the eyes.
The molecules (skandha) composed of even infinite number of atoms may or may not be perceivable by the eyes. How do the molecules which are not perceivable by the eyes become perceivable by the eyes? These become perceivable by the combined action of fission (bheda) and fusion (sanghāta), and not by fission alone. What is the reason for this? When a molecule of minute size splits, it does not give up its minuteness. Hence it must remain unperceivable as before. Again, when a minute molecule splits but simultaneously combines with another molecule, it gives up its minuteness and attains grossness. Then it becomes perceivable by the eyes. The special (visesa) characteristics of substances such as the medium of motion (dharma) have been described. But the common (sāmānya) characteristic has not been mentioned. This must be described.
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
212
