Vaisheshika-sutra with Commentary
by Nandalal Sinha | 1923 | 149,770 words | ISBN-13: 9789332869165
The Vaisheshika-sutra 3.2.10, English translation, including commentaries such as the Upaskara of Shankara Mishra, the Vivriti of Jayanarayana-Tarkapanchanana and the Bhashya of Chandrakanta. The Vaisheshika Sutras teaches the science freedom (moksha-shastra) and the various aspects of the soul (eg., it's nature, suffering and rebirth under the law of karma). This is sutra 0 (‘counter-objection stated’) contained in Chapter 2—Of the Inference of Soul and Mind—of Book III (of soul and mind).
Sūtra 3.2.10 (Counter-objection stated)
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of Vaiśeṣika sūtra 3.2.10:
यदि दृष्टमन्वक्षमहं देवदत्तो ऽहं यज्ञदत्त इति ॥ ३.२.१० ॥
yadi dṛṣṭamanvakṣamahaṃ devadatto 'haṃ yajñadatta iti || 3.2.10 ||
yadi—if; dṛṣṭam—observation; anvakṣam—sensuous; aham—I; devadattaḥ—Devadatta; aham—I; yajñadattaḥ—Yajñadatta; iti—such.
10. If (there are) such sensuous observations (or perceptions) as ‘I am Devadatta,’ ‘I am Yajñadatta,’ (then there is no need of inference).
Commentary: The Upaskāra of Śaṅkara Miśra:
(English rendering of Śaṅkara Miśra’s commentary called Upaskāra from the 15th century)
“If this be so (i.e., if the Soul can be known by sense-perception),the objector says, “then what is the need of inference?”
[Read sūtra 3.2.10 above]
The word ‘iti’ marks the form of knowledge, In ‘dṛṣṭa,’ the affix ‘kta’ is used in a passive sense. ‘Anvakṣa’ means sensuous or perceptual. Therefore the meaning is: if there is perceptual or sensuous observation in the form of ‘This is Devadatta,’ ‘This is Yajñadatta,’ then what is the use of taking the trouble of making an inference? “For an elephant being in sight or observation, those who infer, do not infer it by its screaming.”—10.