俱舍論疏 3.5

3.5

On the Śāstra's: "supreme and sovereign […] the meaning of a faculty is predominance": this is the second [section], answering the meaning of "faculty" (indriya). The Nyāyānusāra says: "This meaning of predominance is established and manifested by the meaning of the verbal roots (dhātu). The verbal root is id, or it is ind. 'Supreme and sovereign' is the meaning of the root id; 'shining and brilliant' is the meaning of the root ind." Now, when examining verbal roots, they have many meanings. The intent of the Nyāyānusāra is: supreme sovereignty is the meaning of the verbal root id; shining brilliance is the meaning of the verbal root ind. "Flourishing brightness" is the suffix (pratyaya), which assists the designations of the two verbal roots id and ind. The meaning of supreme sovereignty and shining brilliance transforms to be named "predominance" (adhipatya), and predominance is precisely the meaning of faculty (indriya). In this Śāstra, supreme sovereignty is the meaning of the verbal root id, and brightness is the suffix, which assists the meaning of supreme sovereignty of the root id, transforming to be named "predominance"; the meaning of predominance is called "faculty". Therefore the Nyāyānusāra says: "This meaning of predominance is established and manifested by the meaning of the verbal roots." Its intent is to comprehensively demonstrate that the twenty-two faculties have predominant efficacy among all assemblages. Question: Since all dharmas have their own respective predominant efficacy with respect to one another, should they not all be called faculties? Answer: These are exceedingly predominant; thus the meaning is established with a distinctive designation, just as a lion king, a village headman, and the like are exceedingly predominant over beasts, villages, and the like.