Vaisheshikasutra 9.4

9.4

sac cāsat |

sat—the existent; ca—and, also; a-sat—non-existent.

4. The existent also is non-existent.

Where a really existent water-pot etc., are spoken of as being non-existent, there non-existence of identity is perceived. For there arise such cognitions “The horse is non-existent by the nature of the cow,” The cow is is non-existent by the nature of the horse,” “A piece of cloth is non-existent by the nature of a water-pot,” “A piece of cloth is a not-water-pot,” “A cow is a not-horse,” “A horse is a not-cow,” etc. Now, “A cow possesses reciprocal non-existence with a horse,” “A water-pot possesses reciprocal non-existence with a piece of cloth,”—it is this reciprocal non-existence, otherwise called absence of identity, that appears in the above cognitions. Here identity is that which determines the counter-oppositeness or contrariety (of absence of identity). And this (reciprocal) non-existence has the same substratum, or denotation or extension as its counter-opposite (i.e., identity); for there is such cognition as that the water-pot is not the ground (on which it lies). It is also eternal, for it is impossible that there should be at any time identity between a water-pot and a piece of cloth.—4.