Vaiśeṣika Sūtra 9.3

9.3

asataḥ sat kriyāguṇavyapadeśābhāvād arthāntaram (śabhāvād ?) |

a-sataḥ—from the non-existent; kraiyā-guṇa-vyapadeśa-abhāvāt—in consequence of the non-existence of reference by, or predication of, action and attribute; artha-antaraṃ—a different object.

3. (The existent is) a different object (from the non-existent), inasmuch as Action and Attribute cannot be predicated of the nonexistent.

“The existent”—such is the complement of the aphorism. The existent is a different object from the non-existent. If it be asked, How? So he says, ‘kriyā-guṇa-vyapadeśa-abhāvāt.’ For there can be no such predication, during the period of annihilation also, as “The water-pot remains,” “The water-pot exists at this moment,” “The water-pot possesses colour,” “Bring the water-pot,” etc. In consequence of this difference, therefore, the existent is a different thing from the non-existent.—3.