Sarvadarshanasangraha 2.31

2.31

Furthermore, does the excellence produced by auxiliary causes initiate another excellence, or does it not? On either alternative, a shower of hail-stones of refutations ensues. If it initiates another excellence, there would also be the predicament of a multifaceted infinite regress: when an excellence is to be produced, if another auxiliary cause is required, a regress of such auxiliaries follows—this is established as the first infinite regress. Likewise, when an excellence of the seed is produced by auxiliary causes such as water, air, and the whole host of entities, the seed must be admitted as the producer; otherwise, even in its absence, the excellence would appear. And the seed, in producing the excellence, produces it only depending on auxiliary causes; otherwise, since assistance would always be rendered, the sprouting of the shoot would also inevitably occur at all times. Therefore, by the auxiliary causes required for the sake of the excellence, another excellence must be produced in the seed; and with respect to that assistance too, if by the same reasoning the seed depending on auxiliary causes is the producer, the first infinite regress of excellences residing in the seed and brought about by auxiliary causes stands established.