Verses on Sāṃkhya 42.3

42.3

ihāśrayāśrayiṇoḥ sambandho dṛṣṭaḥ | na hy āśrayaṃ vināśrayī tiṣṭhati | kuḍyāpaṭāśrayaṃ kṛtvā citram avatiṣṭhate | tad idaṃ sūkṣmaśarīraṃ kuḍyapaṭasthānīyaṃ citrasaṃsthānīyaṃ trayodaśavidhaṃ karaṇam | tad evaṃ sati yad uktaṃ bhavatā trayodaśavidhaṃ karaṇam eva saṃsaratīti tan mithyā | kiṃ cānyat --- sthāṇvādibhyo vinā yathā chāyā iti | sthāṇupuruṣādibhir vinā yathā chāyā na bhavati | chāyāṃ vinā te ca na bhavanti | yathāgninā vinā prakāśo na bhavati | tadvad vināviśeṣais tiṣṭhati na nirāśrayaṃ liṅgam iti | aviśeṣā iti tanmātrāṇi svābhāvikakṣīrajalavac śāntaghoramūḍhatvarahitatvāt | tair ārabdhaṃ sūkṣmaśarīram | tena sūkṣmaśarīreṇa sargādiprārabdhena vinā nirāśrayaṃ trayodaśakaraṇākhyaṃ liṅgaṃ na tiṣṭhati | ato yad uktaṃ bhavatā "kim aviśeṣair ārabdhasūkṣmaśarīrakalpanayā prayojanaṃ trayodaśavidhaṃ karaṇam ea saṃsarati" iti, tan mithyā //

Here the relation of support and supported is seen. For the supported does not remain without a support. Taking a wall or a cloth as a support, a painting remains. In that case, this subtle body occupies the place of the wall or cloth; the thirteenfold instrument occupies the place of the painting. This being so, what was said by you—that the thirteenfold instrument alone transmigrates—is false. And further: "just as a shadow does not exist without a post and the like." Just as without a post, a man, and the like, a shadow does not exist, and without a shadow they do not exist; just as without fire light does not exist; so "without specific elements the subtle body, being without a support, does not remain." "Specific elements" means the subtle elements, because, like milk and water in their natural state, they are devoid of being peaceful, turbulent, or dull. The subtle body is produced by them. Without that subtle body produced at the beginning of creation, the subtle body termed the thirteen instruments, being without a support, does not remain. Therefore, what was said by you—"What is the use of postulating a subtle body produced by the specific elements? The thirteenfold instrument alone transmigrates"—is false. //