俱舍論記 4.15

4.15

「由有攝熟長持業故」者，通釋，約業證有。由色聚中有水攝、火熟、風長、地持四種業用，明知四大體遍諸聚。故《婆沙》一百三十一云「問：云何得知此四大種恒不相離？答：自相、作業一切聚中皆可得故。謂堅聚中地界自相現可得故，有義極成。於此聚中若無水界，金、銀、錫等應不可銷。又水若無，彼應分散。若無火界，石等相擊火不應生。又火若無，無能成熟，彼應腐敗。若無風界，應無動搖。又若無風，應無增長。於濕聚中，水界自相現可得故，有義極成。於此聚中若無地界，至嚴寒位應不成氷。又地界無，船等應沒。若無火界，應無煖時。又火若無，彼應腐敗。若無風界，應不動搖。又風若無，應無增長。於煖聚中，火界自相現可得故，有義極成。於此聚中若無地界，燈燭等焰應不可迴。又地若無，不應持物。若無水界，應不生流。又水若無，焰不應聚。若無風界，不應動搖。又若無風，應無增長。於動聚中，風界自相現可得故，有義極成。於此聚中若無地等界，觸牆等障應不析迴。又地若無，應不持物。若無水界，應無冷風。又水若無，彼應分散。若無火界，應無煖風。又火若無，彼應腐敗。」

Regarding "Because there are the activities of cohesion, maturation, distension, and support": this is the comprehensive explanation, proving existence in terms of activity. Because in an aggregation of form there are the four kinds of active function—cohesion of water, maturation of fire, distension of wind, and support of earth—it is clearly known that the substantial entities of the four great elements pervade all aggregations. Thus fascicle 131 of the Mahāvibhāṣā states: "Question: How is it known that these four great elements are constantly inseparable? Answer: Because their intrinsic characteristics and operations are all apprehensible in every aggregation. That is to say, in a solid aggregation, because the intrinsic characteristic of the earth element is presently apprehensible, its existence is thoroughly established. In this aggregation, if the water element were absent, gold, silver, tin, and the like could not be melted. Furthermore, if water were absent, they would scatter and disperse. If the fire element were absent, fire would not be produced when stones and the like are struck together. Furthermore, if fire were absent, there would be nothing capable of maturing, and they would rot and decay. If the wind element were absent, there would be no motion. Furthermore, if wind were absent, there would be no growth or expansion. In a liquid aggregation, because the intrinsic characteristic of the water element is presently apprehensible, its existence is thoroughly established. In this aggregation, if the earth element were absent, it would not turn into ice when reaching extreme cold. Furthermore, if the earth element were absent, boats and the like would sink. If the fire element were absent, there would be no warm season. Furthermore, if fire were absent, it would rot and decay. If the wind element were absent, it would not move. Furthermore, if wind were absent, there would be no growth. In a warm aggregation, because the intrinsic characteristic of the fire element is presently apprehensible, its existence is thoroughly established. In this aggregation, if the earth element were absent, the flames of lamps and candles could not turn. Furthermore, if earth were absent, it could not support objects. If the water element were absent, a stream would not flow. Furthermore, if water were absent, flames would not gather together. If the wind element were absent, it would not flicker. Furthermore, if wind were absent, there would be no expansion. In a moving aggregation, because the intrinsic characteristic of the wind element is presently apprehensible, its existence is thoroughly established. In this aggregation, if elements such as earth were absent, it would not rebound when striking obstacles like walls. Furthermore, if earth were absent, it could not support objects. If the water element were absent, there would be no cold wind. Furthermore, if water were absent, it would scatter and disperse. If the fire element were absent, there would be no warm wind. Furthermore, if fire were absent, it would rot and decay."